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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Horses and ponies were domesticated thousands of years ago, with the last European "wild horses" - the tarpan, dying out in 1901 (though these may have been ferral hybrids themselves as their DNA and other evidence). These keystone species, and environmental engineers, were critical in helping to maintain European biodiversity through grazing and other natural behaviors.
Over the many generations of domestication, horses and ponies have begun to loose some of the amazing and diverse traits that made them keystone species for specific, and unique environments.
We already created the Wild Horses & Ponies page to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of wild and ferral animals on the landscape, rewilding programs, resources, and organizations that engage with these amazing creatures.
This Page: "Forgotten" Breeds
This Page: "Forgotten" Breeds
Humans wiped out the last true wild horses long ago, and what exist today are often feral horses that have adapted to their new environments, and often interbred with both wild and domestic blood over the last few thousand years.
Many rewilding projects have included the Przewalski's horse (a close relative of the now extinct wild horse and the modern domestic horse) Konik ponies, or when executed poorly, some have chosen to use any old domestic horse - without adequate attention to the horse or pony's adaptations or experience of living in the wild. In some cases the results have been deadly.
While researching this topic, one article focusing on the topic of choosing appropriate animals for rewilding in Europe pointed out that:
"There are many so-called primitive, “forgotten” horse breeds that are genetically closer to the original European wild horse, like the Exmoor ponies in the UK, the Fjord horse in Norway, or the Sorraia, Pottoka, Asturcón, the Losino, the Galician, the Landais and Monchino horses in Spain." - Rewilding Academy: Konik horses are Not Tarpans
With the above information in mind, we broke our Horse & Pony Breeds page into separate pages for the UK, the rest of Europe, and third for Asian horses (with probably more to come).
So far the breeds we found included breeds believed to be originating from Mongolian horses, brought to distant islands, and protected from extensive breeding or other interventions from humans. Some of these breeds have unique DNA not found anywhere else, and the horses themselves well adapted to their now native habitats.
The purpose of this page is to help people understand the benefits and drawbacks of certain horses and ponies in the conservation landscape with respect to Asian biomes and local breeds.
Horse & Pony Breeds
Horse & Pony Breeds
Caspian Horse
Caspian Horse
"Caspian horses originated in the mountainous regions of present-day northern Iran. Ancient literature and art from the Persian empire depict a small breed of horses from the area that were exported to Greece, Egypt, and Assyria. [1]
In 2011, archeologists discovered horse remains in Iran dating back to 3400 BC. Scientists later asserted that these remains resembled the skeleton of the modern Caspian. Caspian horses have anatomical differences that distinguish their bones from other modern breeds. [1]
Genetic studies suggest Caspian horse bloodlines influenced the development of several Iranian breeds, with strong links to Turkmen and Arabian horses. Some researchers believe that Caspians are ancestors of all hot-blooded horses. [2]
The harsh mountain environment of their homeland likely contributed to the maintenance of their small stature over millennia. Smaller horses require less vegetation to survive and are more agile over challenging terrain compared to larger breeds.[2]
Some believe the miniature Persian horses depicted in ancient sources went extinct long ago. Louise Firouz, an American living in Iran, named the breed in 1965 after discovering a small population of miniature horses in the Alborz Mountains by the Caspian Sea. [1]" - MadBarn: Caspian Horse Breed Guide
Historical Range
Historical Range
"Caspian horses originated in the mountainous regions of present-day northern Iran." - MadBarn: Caspian Horse Breed Guide
Caspian horses were thought to be extinct until 1965 when the breed was re-created "by Louise Firouz, an American living in Iran, from a base stock of a small number of small horses found in the Elburz Mountains in Amol.[1][2][3]" - Wikipedia: Caspian Horse
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"The harsh mountain environment of their homeland likely contributed to the maintenance of their small stature over millennia. Smaller horses require less vegetation to survive and are more agile over challenging terrain compared to larger breeds.[2]" - MadBarn: Caspian Horse Breed Guide
"Caspian horses are easy keepers. This hardy breed evolved to survive on desert vegetation and can gain quickly weight when consuming energy-dense feeds." - MadBarn: Caspian Horse Breed Guide
Health & Genetics
Health & Genetics
"The Caspian Horse is extremely hardy, with strong hooves that rarely need shoeing unless they are consistently worked on very hard or stony ground." - Wikipedia: Caspian Horse
"While relatively hardy, these horses are susceptible to common health problems found in miniature horse breeds." - MadBarn: Caspian Horse Breed Guide
"There are experts who classify the Caspian horse as one that does not directly fall into the four ancestral types, namely the Northern European, Northern Steppe, Southern Steppe, and the Iberian/Mediterranean, making it unique and an important link to ancient horses.[4] It is this reason the Caspian is considered to be one of the rarest breeds of horses, along with the Akhal Teke.[4]
Research has shown that Caspian and Turkoman horses occupy positions in phylogenetic analysis that has given rise to a hypothesis that they carry genetics that are ancestral to all other oriental type breeds studied to date.[10]" - Wikipedia: Caspian Horse
Cheju or Jeju Native Pony
Cheju or Jeju Native Pony
"The Cheju native pony may have existed since prehistoric times, although no clear record confirms this. During the Korya dynasty (1276-1376), Mongolians governed Cheju and introduced their horses to the island. ..." - OK State: Breeds of Livestock: Cheju Horses
"Khan’s soldiers brought 160 Mongol horses with them, which crossbred with the native horses on the island.
Over the century following the Mongol invasion, it is estimated that over 30,000 horses were taken from Jeju Island, whilst others remained on the island for breeding. The Jeju horse that developed as its own breed was fierce, highly intelligent, and able to withstand harsh weather conditions, including low temperatures and marshy footing." - FEI Breed Profile: The Jeju Horse
"During the Koryo and Choson dynasties, Cheju was a major horse producing area and 25 percent of the island's farm households were engaged in horse production. At one time there were as many as 20,000 native ponies in Cheju, but this number decreased with mechanization of farming and transportation to only 2500 by 1989. The breed is in serious danger of extinction. For their preservation, in 1987 the Korean government designated the Cheju native pony as National treasure No. 347.
The hardiness and draft ability of the Cheju native pony is outstanding, especially considering its small size. The ponies survive the most severe winters without artificial shelter and are highly resistant to both disease and ticks. Mares foal regularly up to twenty or more years of age." - OK State: Breeds of Livestock: Cheju Horses
"In mid 1980s, the population of the Jeju horse dropped to approximately 1,200. In 1986, the central government designated the horse as Natural Monument No. 347, named ‘Jeju Horse of Jeju,’ to prevent it from extinction and to preserve its breeds as state-designated cultural properties. Currently, more than 150 native Jeju horses are being raised within a protection area." - Wikipedia: Jeju Horse
Historic Range
Historic Range
"From the examination of horse teeth that were excavated from shell middens in Gwakji-ri and in Handeulgul Cave in Wollyeong-ri, horses are estimated to have been on Jejudo Island since the end of the Stone Age or the beginning of the Bronze Age." - Wikipedia: Jeju Horse
Cheju Island of South Korea
Dareshuri Horse or Shirazi Horse
Dareshuri Horse or Shirazi Horse
"The Dareshuri is an Iranian breed of riding horse of oriental type. It is native to Fars province in southern Iran and is associated with the Qashqai people of that area, particularly with the Dareshuri tribe for which it is named. It may also be known as the Shirazi after the city of Shiraz, the provincial capital.
It is an endangered breed: a population of 300–400 was reported in 2003. Its conservation status in 2007 was 'endangered'; in 2023 it was 'unknown'." - Wikipedia: Dareshuri
"... In the nineteenth century Shirazi horses were cross-bred from local Persian mares and Arab stallions from Baghdad; many were exported to India, where they were known by the name 'Gulf Arab'.[7]: 609 In the twentieth century the Dareshuri renewed the blood of their horses through frequent inter-breeding with Persian Arab stock from Khuzestan, often through Bakhtiari middlemen; preference was given to horses of the Khersani matrilineal strain.[6]: 17
The breed came to prominence under the impetus of Dareshuri tribal chiefs Ziad Khan and Hossein Khan, and later Ayaz Khan, in the late 1970s, as part of the categorization and study of Persian Arabian horses.[8][9] Members of the Dareshuri tribe insist on their Mongolian ancestry, and claim to have traveled between Iran and Syria in the time of Genghis Khan, before returning to Iran with the best Syrian Arabian horses they could find there.[8] However, this claim is not supported by written pedigree documents, and therefore cannot be proven.[8]
Genetic analysis of the principal Iranian horse breeds finds them to form a group distinct from other horses;[5]: 632 within that group the Dareshuri is closest to the Persian Arab.[5]: 632 [10]: 180 " - Wikipedia: Dareshuri
Historic Range
Historic Range
"The origins of the Dareshuri are unknown.[4]: 223 It is a traditional breed, closely associated with the Qashqai people of Fars province in southern Iran, and particularly with the Dareshuri tribe for which it is named.[5]: 628 " - Wikipedia: Dareshuri
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"The traditional semi-annual migrations of the Qashgai people from their winter pastures to the south and west of the city of Shiraz to their summer grazing grounds in the mountains to the north and west of the city lasted some four to six weeks and covered many hundreds of kilometres.[6]: 15 These journeys exerted a powerful selection for qualities of stamina and endurance in their horses.[5]: 628 " - Wikipedia: Dareshuri
Dosanko (道産子 ) / Hokkaido Washu
Dosanko (道産子 ) / Hokkaido Washu
The Dosanko (道産子 ) also known as the Hokkaido Washu, is a heritage breed from northern Japan. Believed to be descended from horses brought from the south during the Edo period. ... They typically stand around 13 hands high and come in many different coat colors. Known for their smart and gentle nature..." - Discover the Horse: Dosanko
Historic Range
Historic Range
"The Dosanko (道産子), also known as the Hokkaido Horse (北海道馬, Hokkaidō uma) and Hokkaido Pony (北海ポニー, Hokkaidō ponī), is one of the eight extant indigenous horse breeds of Japan, and the only one of the eight not critically endangered.[1] It originated on the island of Hokkaido, in the far north of the country, and is found particularly along the Pacific (eastern) coast of the island.[2] ...
The Dosanko is thought to derive from horses brought to the island from the Tōhoku region of north-eastern Honshu in the late Tokugawa period (1603–1868), and abandoned there.[4]" - Wikipedia: Dosanko
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"These horses have adapted to the extreme cold and snow, making them a tough and rugged breed." - Discover the Horse: Dosanko
Rewilding Experiment with Dosanko Horses
Rewilding Experiment with Dosanko Horses
"An experiment to manage forests by feeding bamboo grass to horses from Hokkaido University’s Shizunai Livestock Farm (Shinhidaka town, Hokkaido) has been taking place in the mountain forest of Bankei (Sapporo city, Hokkaido) ...
Forests covered with bamboo, which are highly fertile, block sunlight and make it difficult for other plants to grow. This poses a major challenge for the regeneration of trees after logging, and for the diversity of plant species. Therefore, for more than 60 years, the Shizunai Livestock Farm has been conducting research on how to create a rich forest by letting Dosanko horses to graze in the forest and eat bamboo grass and other plants. Currently, the common method of removing bamboos is to use a bulldozer, which also removes the topsoil along with the bamboos. As a result, the trees that grow there consist of a limited number of species. On the other hand, forest management with horse grazing can leave nutrients in the soil and regenerate a greater variety of plants."
One professor said" “Bamboo have a high regenerative capacity, but I believe that the repeated grazing by horses causes the underground stems to decline, resulting in a decrease in the number of bamboos over a period of several years. Therefore, we are planning to continue surveying at the same time each year, to monitor the quantity of bamboo and changes in the vegetation. One notable observation I would like to mention is that in the plot where the bamboo grass flowers were observed last year, which are said to bloom before they die, the bamboo grass has not recovered much after being eaten by horses. In that plot, the bamboo may decrease faster than expected, and then new plants may grow,”"
"“By creating new employment opportunities for Dosanko horses, which are now in danger of extinction, we hope we can also help them survive,”" said another - “Dosanko” Horses Regenerate Forests by Eating Bamboo Grass
Karabair Horses
Karabair Horses
"The Karabair is one of the most ancient breeds of Central Asia. Developed in Uzbekistan and northern Tajikistan the breed was established under the influence of southern and steppe breeds. ..." - OK State: Breeds of Livestock: Karabair Horses
"Karabair is a majestic and now rare horse breed.
Derived from ancient stock, the Karabair has been around for centuries, used first by the nomadic people of Central Asia and then by the Russian Cossacks." - Horse Breeds List: Karabair
"The Karabair shows good endurance and versatile working qualities. ..." - OK State: Breeds of Livestock: Karabair Horses
Historic Range
Historic Range
Developed in Uzbekistan and northern Tajikistan
Kisouma Horses
Kisouma Horses
"The Kisouma (木曽馬) is Ancient Japanese Horse breed and a Symbol of the Samurai! They originated in the Kiso region of Japan. They are tough horses that can live in harsh environments." - Discover the Horse: Kisouma Horse
"Four distinct sub-populations within the Kiso breed were identified in 2012.[13]" - Wikipedia: Kiso Horse
"About 66% of the horses studied had a dorsal stripe.[11]" - Wikipedia: Kiso Horse
Historic Region
Historic Region
"The Kiso or Kiso Horse (Japanese: 木曽馬, kiso uma) is one of the eight indigenous horse breeds of Japan. It is the only native horse breed from Honshu, the principal island of Japan.[4] Like most other Japanese native breeds, it is critically endangered.[5]" - Wikipedia: Kiso Horse
"The Kiso breed originates from the Kiso Valley and the Kiso Sanmyaku mountain range, in Nagano Prefecture, and the Higashimino region of Gifu Prefecture, in central Honshu.[3][8][9] During the Meiji era (1868–1912) it was severely affected by the breeding programme of the Imperial Japanese Army, which wanted taller horses and ordered that all stallions of the breed should be gelded,[10] and that only imported stallions be used to cover Kiso mares.[11] After the Second World War few pure-bred Kiso horses remained.[12] A single stallion, dedicated to a religious shrine, had escaped castration. His son Daisan-haruyama was born in 1951 and is the foundation stallion of the present-day breed.[11]" - Wikipedia: Kiso Horse
Misaki-Uma Horses
Misaki-Uma Horses
"The Misaki Horse is a rare breed that is native to Japan where it is considered a national treasure."
"Having been isolated from human intervention for so long, these animals have retained many of the same physical traits from their Mongolian ancestors."
"2003 research on the genetics of Japanese and Mongolian horse breeds revealed that the Misaki breed is most closely related to the Noma, Tokara, and Yonaguni breeds." - Horse Breeds List: Misaki Horse
Historic Region
Historic Region
The meadow of Cape Toi on the southern coast of Kyuku Island of southern Japan
"All of the native horses of Japan are believed to be descended from horses brought from China about 2,000 years ago. They are now separated into eight distinct breeds." - OKState: Breeds of Livestock: Misaki Horses
Genetic investigation show that these horses posses unique genetics not shared by the other native breeds of Japan.
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These feral horses have grazed areas that support zoysia and cogon grasses for hundreds of years.
Environmental Changes & Horse Population
Environmental Changes & Horse Population
"For the sustainable conservation of Misaki horses, we should carefully consider our approach to their conservation to avoid unintended consequences [5]. Even if the number of horses increases, which is favorable for stakeholders, we need to discuss interactions between the horses and the environment that nurtures them. Increases in the number of horses also influence the environment, which will continue to change in the future. While such an increase might seem positive at first, it may bring unintended consequences. Thus, we should thoroughly and carefully consider sequential and balanced interactions between the number of feral horses and the environmental load." - Genetic Characteristics of Feral Misaki Horses Based on Polymorphisms of Microsatellites and Mitochondrial DNA
"Although management of the Misaki horses is undertaken without direct human intervention, the number of horses has changed in accordance with human management of the Cape environment. Around the time of the Second World War, poor maintenance of the environment decreased the grassland area, and the number of Misaki horses decreased sharply [8]. In this study, the results suggest that the Misaki horses had experienced a bottleneck, but the allele frequency across all loci formed a normal “L-shaped” distribution. These indeterminate results suggest that the Misaki horse population was small and slightly reduced in the past, reflecting the history of Misaki horses after the war: the population of Misaki horses was reduced concurrently with less direct human management of the environment after the war. Therefore, maintenance of the Cape Toi environment plays a crucial role in the conservation of Misaki horses." - Genetic Characteristics of Feral Misaki Horses Based on Polymorphisms of Microsatellites and Mitochondrial DNA
Mongolian Horse
Mongolian Horse
"The Mongolian horse (Mongolian Адуу, aduu: "horse" or mori; or as a herd, ado) is the native horse breed of Mongolia. The breed is purported to be largely unchanged since the time of Genghis Khan. Nomads living in the traditional Mongol fashion still hold more than 3 million animals, which outnumber the country's human population. In Mongolia, the horses live outdoors all year, dealing with temperatures from 30 °C (86 °F) in summer down to −40 °C (−40 °F) in winter, and they graze and search for food on their own." - Wikipedia: Mongolian Horse
"The origins of the Mongolian breed are hard to determine. Nomads of the central Asian steppes have been documented as riding horses since 2000 BC. Tests have shown, that among all horse breeds, Mongol horses feature the largest genetic variety, followed by the Tuvan horses. This indicates that it is a very archaic breed suffering little human-induced selection. The data also indicate that many other breeds descend from the Mongol horses.[7][8]" - Wikipedia: Mongolian Horse
"Because the horses are allowed to live much the same as wild horses, they require little in the way of hoof care. The hooves are left untrimmed and unshod, and few farriers are in the country. Mongol horses have hard, strong hooves and seldom have foot problems." - Wikipedia: Mongolian Horse
Historic Region
Historic Region
The Steppes, Deserts, and Mountains of Mongolia
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"Horses from different regions of Mongolia are considered to have different traits. Desert horses are said to have larger feet than average ("like camel's feet"). Mountain horses are short and particularly strong. Steppe horses are the tallest, fastest variety of Mongol horses. Specifically, the eastern Khentii Province and Sükhbaatar Province steppe provinces are widely considered to produce the fastest horses in the country. Darkhad horses are known for their strength.[15] A Darkhad horse weighing only 250 kg can carry a load of 300 kg—the equivalent of carrying another horse on its back." - Wikipedia: Mongolian Horse
"Mongol horses are frugal, hardy, somewhat wily, and tread safely in rough terrain. In Mongolia, most animals are kept roaming free, and only a small number of riding animals are caught and tethered. A nomad's herd of horses hangs out around the family's dwelling, typically grazing several kilometres away. The herd is allowed to choose its own pasturage with little interference from the owners. They may disappear for days at a time, and eventually the owners go out to look for them. Once a horse has become familiar with carrying a rider, it will be calm, friendly, and very reliable.[9] Because nature provides so well for Mongol horses, they cost little to nothing to raise. ...
The horses typically eat nothing but grass and require very little water, a trait useful for survival in environments like the Gobi desert. A horse may drink only once a day.[17][18] In the winter, Mongol horses paw up the snow to eat the grass underneath. For water, they eat snow.
During the winter and early spring, horses lose about 30% of their body weight.[19] They must regain this weight during summer and fall so as to survive another year. During particularly hard winters ("zuds"), horses may starve to death en masse or die of exposure. Herdsmen can do little to save their herds in such conditions. In the bitter winter of 2009–2010, 188,270 Mongol horses perished.[20] Despite their life in semi-feral conditions, most horses live to be 20 – 40 years old.
The horse is believed to have been first domesticated somewhere in the Eurasian Steppe. Never have all the horses in Mongolia been domesticated at once; rather, wild and domesticated horses coexisted and interbred, so verifiably "true" wild blood no longer exists in the Mongol horses of today. However, although not considered true wild horses in the same sense as Przewalski's horse, some feral Mongolian horses browse the steppe alongside their semiferal domesticated kin. Unlike the mustangs that roam the West in the United States, which are categorized as a non-native species, feral Mongol horses are living in the same manner and place as where their ancestors had run and lived for hundreds of thousands of years. ..." - Wikipedia: Mongolian Horse
Ancestor of Many Other Breeds
Ancestor of Many Other Breeds
"Genetic analyses have revealed links between the Mongolian horse and breeds in Iceland, Scandinavia, Central Europe, and the British Isles.[11][12] The Mongol horses are believed to have been originally imported from Russia by Swedish traders; this imported Mongol stock subsequently became the basis for the Norwegian Fjord horse and a variety of other Scandinavian breeds, including the Nordland. One of these breeds was eventually exported to Iceland by settlers, producing the modern day Icelandic horse, which bears a strong resemblance to the Mongol horse and lives in much the same way, foraging freely off the land during all seasons. The Exmoor, Scottish Highland, Shetland, and Connemara pony breeds have also been found to be related to the Icelandic horse, suggesting that all these northern European breeds had ancestors that grazed on the steppe of Mongolia." - Wikipedia: Mongolian Horse
Przewalski's Horse (P-Horse) or Takhi
Przewalski's Horse (P-Horse) or Takhi
Native to the central Asian Steppes, Przewalski's horse of Mongolia is often thought of as the only true wild horse, but genetic data shows that this may not be fully true. In fact these are no longer horses, as their family tree is thought to have branched of from mongolian horses thousands of years ago. Though the two species can still cross breed and produce fertile offspring, unlikes horses with zebra or donkeys.
"The Przewalski's horse is a subspecies of Equus ferus and is considered to be the domestic horse's closest relative. It is a cousin to zebras and the wild ass, which also falls under the Equidae family. The split between Przewalski's horse species and the ancestors of domestic horses happened somewhere between 120,000 and 240,000 years ago." - TreeHugger: Przewalski's Horse Things You Didn't Know about the Last Wild Horses
"The four largest reserves where captive Przewalski's horses roam are in Le Villaret, France; Buchara, Uzbekistan; Hortobágy-National Park in Hungary; and the Chernobyl exclusion zone (CEZ) in Ukraine.7 Scientists released P-horses on the outskirts of the CEZ to increase biodiversity in the area and better balance the ecosystem. It also gave the horses a 1,000-square-mile habitat almost completely free of humans, allowing them to thrive. In 2019, researchers from the University of Georgia used motion-activated cameras to capture more than 11,000 images of the horses using the abandoned dwellings in the zone as shelter.8 Their study, published in the journal Mammal Research, suggests the horses use the buildings for sleeping, breeding, and refuge.9" - TreeHugger: Przewalski's Horse Things You Didn't Know about the Last Wild Horses
Historic Region
Historic Region
Native to the central Asian Steppes, and last known to graze in the Gobi Desert
Mongolia
4:35 minute video about the challanges of returning this once extinct species to the wild, after the animals have acclimated to living in milder climates and easy zoo life.
Introduced for Rewilding
Introduced for Rewilding
Belarus
France (in Le Villaret)
Hungary (Hortobágy-National Park and the Pentezug Reserve)
Ukraine (Chernobyl exclusion zone (CEZ)
Uzbekistan (the Bukhara Breeding Centre)
"A total of 36 Przewalski’s horses were brought to the border of Belarus and Ukraine 15 years ago to increase biodiversity in the fall-out area." - Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
Turkoman Horse
Turkoman Horse
"Now raised in a remote area of Central Asia, dwindling numbers of Turkomans continue to exist and are proof of the merit of a strangely lovely horse. They were said to be ewe necked and slab-sided. But the proper Turkoman is in fact, an elegant, tall horse with a conformation to suit his environment and his job.
There are several breeds or strains within the Turkoman area in northeastern Iran that includes the Akhal, the Yomud, the Goklan and Nokhorli.
...
Although for centuries there had been a fluid movement of boundaries in the Aralo-Caspian region the strains under discussion probably kept to their respective breeding grounds in historical times regardless of political nomenclature. Geography and climate are reflected in the conformation of the types." - Museum of the Horse: A Look at the Turkoman Horse in Iran
"The Turkoman is noted for its endurance and good resistance to diseases." - Wikipedia: Turkoman Horse
Akhal Strain of Turkoman Horse
Akhal Strain of Turkoman Horse
"... some Turkomans claim that there is a strain known as the Akhal as well as one known as the Teke. According to these same Turkomans the Akhal Teke carries it’s neck straight and high while the Akhal more closely resembles ancient Chinese paintings with a heavy body, slim neck and sculpted head." - Museum of the Horse: A Look at the Turkoman Horse in Iran
Goklan Strain of Turkoman Horse
Goklan Strain of Turkoman Horse
"...Goklan are found mainly in Persia where the mountainous regions of northern Khorassan with a higher rainfall than the northern slopes of the Kopet Dagh Mountains favour a more compact conformation than the rangy desert Teke of modern Turkmenistan." - Museum of the Horse: A Look at the Turkoman Horse in Iran
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The Yamud and Goklan are bred by the Yomud and Goklan tribes whose boundaries are within Iran. The topography here varies between the steppes beginning at the eastern edge of the Caspian Sea to the dry steppe (Ghezelk Bayer) bordering the Atrek river. In the spring the grass is lush. In the summer the springs dry up and the Atrek becomes a dusty ditch. Grass turns to dust in the Khaled Nebi mountains.
The herds of horses move south to the Alborz mountains where native grasses grow waist high and springs bubble up in primeval oak forests. Where the mares graze with chita, wild boar and wolves in the winter, they share the summer pastures with leopards, bear, wild boar and red deer." - Museum of the Horse: A Look at the Turkoman Horse in Iran
Persia, or modern day Iran
Teke Strain of Turkoman Horse
Teke Strain of Turkoman Horse
"The Teke is a slim, finely coated animal with sparse hair in its mane and tail. At first glance the horse appears to be all angles. The head is straight and is often attached to the neck at an angle rather than a curve. The neck fits into the shoulders at an angle again and, as the withers are high, gives the appearance of a ‘ewe’ neck. A straight long back, low carriage of tail, straight legs and short pasterns complete the picture seen by eighteenth century travelers. In action all the angle flow into serpentine lines of swift movement. They are naturally collected at slow gaits. They float above the ground at the trot and sweep flat to the ground at the gallop: an equine Saluki." - Museum of the Horse: A Look at the Turkoman Horse in Iran
Historic Region
Historic Region
"‘Teke’ (from the tribe of that name) exists both sides of the border in the hot, sandy regions bordering the Caspian Sea and the Kara Kum desert.
...
The Teke is bred by the Teke Turkoman tribes in country that encompasses an area from Merv to Ashgabad; flat open land broken by irrigation ditches where the Oxus, the Morghab and Tejend rivers have been diverted for agriculture. Between these oases, however, lie miles of dry steppe where the few water holes are invariably brackish." - Museum of the Horse: A Look at the Turkoman Horse in Iran
Yomud Strain of Turkoman Horse
Yomud Strain of Turkoman Horse
Historic Region
Historic Region
"The Iomud horse is raised in Turkmenistan, particularly in the velayat of Daşoguz; in Uzbekistan; in Karakalpakstan (now part of Uzbekistan), particularly in the Khwarezm region; and in Iraq, Iran and Turkey.[3]: 30 Unlike the Akhal-Teke, it usually kept in herds in desert or semi-desert areas.[4]: 297 " - Wikipedia: Iomud
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The Yamud ... are bred by the Yomud ... [tribe] whose boundaries are within Iran. The topography here varies between the steppes beginning at the eastern edge of the Caspian Sea to the dry steppe (Ghezelk Bayer) bordering the Atrek river. In the spring the grass is lush. In the summer the springs dry up and the Atrek becomes a dusty ditch. Grass turns to dust in the Khaled Nebi mountains.
The herds of horses move south to the Alborz mountains where native grasses grow waist high and springs bubble up in primeval oak forests. Where the mares graze with chita, wild boar and wolves in the winter, they share the summer pastures with leopards, bear, wild boar and red deer.
The Yomud is a more compact animal then the Teke. His conformation is suited to both the flat steppe and to the mountainous regions of the Alborz." - Museum of the Horse: A Look at the Turkoman Horse in Iran
"Unlike the Akhal-Teke, it usually kept in herds in desert or semi-desert areas.[4]: 297 " - Wikipedia: Iomud
Yonaguni Horse
Yonaguni Horse
"As of 2020, there are only 130 Yonaguni ponies in existence. They are also referred to as the Ryukyu horse or the “shima-uma” (which literally translates to "island horse"). It is believed by many that these ponies were first introduced during the Jyomon Period nearly 2,000 years ago." - I Heart Horses: Yonaguni Ponies
"... Yonaguni Island is not a utopian Horseland. At droughts, many of the foals and weakened ones lose their lives. They have to withstand the typhoon storms and rainy winters. Wild-living horses are much more short-lived than human-bred horses." - Amakuma: Yonaguni Horse
Historic Region
Historic Region
Yonaguni Island of Japan
"Structure analysis based on Bayesian clustering revealed the possibility that Yonaguni horses comprise four or five subpopulations. Consequently, although only two haplotypes were identified in the mitochondrial analysis, genetic diversity of Yonaguni horses was not particularly low in comparison with that of other breeds that are at risk of extinction." - Genetic Diversity of the Yonaguni Horse Based on Polymorphisms in Microsatellites and Mitochondrial DNA
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Programs & Services
Programs & Services
Resources
Resources
Asia
Asia
The Jeju Horse Database System "provides access to data on the genetic lineage of Jeju horses."
Japan
Japan
Investigation of Genetic Diversity and Inbreeding in a Japanese Native Horse Breed for Suggestions on its Conservation "Because native breeds can serve as genetic resources for adapting to environment changes, their conservation is important for future agroecosystems. Using pedigree analysis, we investigated genetic diversity and inbreeding in Japanese Hokkaido native horses, which have adapted to a cold climate and roughage diet."
Europe
Europe
Caspian Horse Society UK: Stallions at Stud (in the UK and Europe)
UK
UK
Caspian Horse Society UK: Stallions at Stud (in the UK and Europe)
Grazing Animals Project Handbook (RBST) "A Guide to the Selection of Livestock Breeds for Grazing Wildlife Sites"
Rewilding Europe: Rewilding Horses in Europe (PDF) includes a list of prospective horse breeds and information about their adaptations as well as availability.
Organizations
Organizations
International
International
The Caspian Horse Breeders Association "was established to help breeders worldwide to preserve the bloodlines of exported Caspian foundation horses. If you’re interested in owning a Caspian horse, let us help connect you with active breeders, and together we can save the breed!"
International Caspian Society "To identify, preserve, protect and promote the Caspian Horse."
Asia
Asia
Iran
Iran
The Caspian Conservation Society (CCS) "Research into the history and origin of this elegant horse proved the ancient lineage of the Caspian. It was identified, as a royal breed previously thought long extinct. "
Japan
Japan
The Council for the Protection of Misaki Horses "maintains the environment of the Cape and observes the horse population"
Kiso Horse Conservation Group "We are a natural monument in Nagano Prefecture and preserve and nurture the living cultural property, Kiso Ma."
Yonaguni Pony Society
South Korea
Cheju or Jeju Island/ 제주도
Jeju Stockbreeding Promotion Institute
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