Equines Around the World: Exploring the Wild Horse & Pony Colonies across the Globe
Equines of the World: A Journey through Wild Horse and Pony Colonies across the Globe By: Alicia N Martin Whether you're a lifetime equestrian or a budding horse lover, the mere sight of wild horses galloping across the plains always seems to send our hearts a quiver. The dramatic thudding of their hooves across the vast landscape, the way their manes shudder behind them as they speed across the outstretched vista. So dramatic. So very, very dear to our hearts. But did you know that the beautiful green and blue planet we call home is also the home of hundreds of wild horses and ponies as well? Well, I say wild horses, but really there's a bit of a niggle. You see, according to experts, there exists only one true breed of wild horse, the takhi. Also called Przewalski's horse, the takhi is an endangered species of horse originally native to the steppes of Central Asia. Previously extinct in the wild, this short, stocky horse was reintroduced to its native habitat in Mongolia back in the mid 1980's and today, the herd still only has a few hundred horses. So, if the takhi is the world's only true wild horse, where does that leave the thousands of horses and ponies we see on nature documentaries and in wildlife magazines? The short answer is this: they're still wild, but they're also feral. Simply put, the horses we see bounding freely across the plains today are descendants of domestic horses and ponies that either escaped or were released into the wild.
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Locations of Wild (but feral) Horses & Ponies Wild populations of horses and ponies can be found across every continent except Antarctica. Historically, if explorers, adventurers, colonizers and trail blazers once roamed across the land, you'll be sure to find a colony of equines somewhere. Some of today's equine herds are descended from ancient horse bloodlines as well, we just don't consider them truly "wild" because of various reasons. So saddle up, because we're going to explore some of the fascinating wild (but feral) herds of equines trotting across the planet!
North America The continent of North America has some of the largest herds of wild horses and ponies and it's easy to see why. Throughout history the land was visited by conquering Spaniards, and later by the British and French. Over those hundreds of years, thousands of Spanish and Iberian heritage equines were introduced into the landscape, and some of them either escaped or were let loose into the wilds. One such herd of escapees are the Pryor Mountains horses of Wyoming. Considered quite rare, these horses are believed to be the descendants of the early Colonial Spanish equines. The Cumberland Island feral horses are also suspected to be leftovers from the Spanish missions from the late 1500s, but much is unknown about this period in time. What we do know for certain is that the earliest account of horses being on the island was in 1742 when the Spanish stumbled upon corralled horses within the fort. Sable Island National Park Reserve is a small speck of an island off the coast of Nova Scotia. Here the horses were brought over by Boston minister Andrew LeMercier between 1737 and 1738. He believed that a herd of horses might benefit anyone who became shipwrecked on the island. Currently there are about 450 of the shaggy-coated horses on the island. The Banker horses of Ocracoke, Shackleford Banks and the Outer Banks of North Carolina are all descended from the original Spanish mustangs. According to historians, a shipwreck several hundred years ago left a herd stranded on the islands and thus several of the islands now have their own unique herds. Last, but certainly not least, we have the famous ponies of Chincoteague and Assateague islands. Much like their North Carolina counterparts, it is believed that the ponies of Assateague arrived on the island via a shipwreck off the coast. Each year in July, the islands play host to the annual Pony Swim where thousands of spectators gather to watch the rounded up ponies swim from one island to the other. Once on Chincoteague Island, the foals are then auctioned off to help balance the numbers of the herd. Marguerite Henry's Misty of Chincoteague is based on this annual tradition.
South America Much like the North American herds, the wild horses of South America mostly hail from the same ancestors in Spain and the Iberian coast. Of these herds, one such area that hosts them is in Patagonia, a region in South America that encompasses the southernmost tip which includes Argentina and Chile. Commonly called Criollo horses, these hardy equines have strong bodies and broad chests. The breed is famous for its incredible endurance and the ability to live in such harsh climates. Another population of Criollo horses lives in the often harsh, semi-arid region of Northern Brazil called Roraima. These are the Lavradeiro, which like their Patagonian cousins are descended from the Colonial Spanish breeds brought over centuries ago. The colony has seen its numbers depleted over the years due to excessive hunting, unfortunately.
Australia Amazingly, it's Australia that has the largest number of feral horses worldwide. Between 128,000 and 205,000 brumbies (wild horses) call this continent home. Largely ranch escapees, these herds have survived extremely harsh conditions and invoke the ire of many farmers across the states. The Kaimanawa horses on New Zealand's North Island are a feral population that were first introduced in the 19th and 20th centuries. Because of how quickly they reproduce, the New Zealand government keeps a close eye on their numbers as the habitat in which they live also is home to a number of endangered plants.
Europe The Camargue horse from the Rhône delta near the Mediterranean are a world-renowned breed of horse due to their distinctive coloring. Believed to be descended from the Stone Age Solutré horse, these whitish-gray equines are well suited to the marshes they call home. Their hooves are uniquely adapted for the climate as they rarely develop foot problems or require shoes. In the Netherlands and in more rural areas of Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina, conservationists are cultivating and reintroducing feral horses called Konik horses back into the old habitats of their ancestral cousins, the Tarpan or Eurasian wild horse. Theorized to be the horses drawn on cave walls back in prehistoric times, the Tarpan became extinct in the wild in the late 1800's and the last captive Tarpan died in a Russian zoo in 1909. Across the Celtic Sea on the western coast of the Republic of Ireland you'll find the Connemara region, home to the Connemara ponies. It is not known for certain where the equine breed originated from, but tales tell of the Vikings first bringing the horses over from Iceland. Still more tales talk about the ponies being descended from either the now extinct Irish Hobby or even from freed Andalusians from old 16th century Spanish galleons. Today, the Connemara is best known for its versatility. Both children and adults use the pony for competitive show jumping, dressage, and events. Across the sea and to the North you'll find the well-known Shetland ponies of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Short, stocky and full of personality, these ponies, although often roaming the countryside, are all individually owned so are not considered truly wild. Thought to be descended from the ancient horse breeds that crossed the prehistoric ice fields, hard life on the islands has decreased their stature to what you see today. Another semi-wild herd of ponies are the Dartmoor ponies of England. Believed to have lived on the moors for the last few thousand years, the Dartmoor ponies are taller than their Shetland cousins but just as tough and hardy. They survive by feeding on the poor vegetation found in the area and are thought to play a vital role in maintaining the various habitats and supporting wildlife.
Asia One unique breed of horse is the Altai, a Mongolian breed developed in the Altai Mountains of Central Asia. Considered one of the oldest horse breeds in Siberia, the Altai is well adapted to the harsh and rugged terrain of the mountain chain. Agile and sure-footed, the Altai horses were bred for herding, transportation and riding.
Africa The difficult climate and terrain of the African continent has led to a vast array of amazing land animals, however, while feral horse populations do exist, they are far fewer in numbers than any other continent. Still, the Namib Desert in Southwestern Namibia is home to a small herd that has laid claim to the land for the last century. Descended from a nearby stud farm, the farm and its horses were abandoned during World War I, leaving the horses to fend for themselves. After finding a continuous source of water, the Namib horses stayed in the region and slowly increased their numbers. Sadly, the population has decreased in recent years, mainly due to predation by local hyena clans.
Credit: www.alicianmartin.com No matter how the local populations came to be, one thing is for certain: feral horse populations are not only massively widespread, they're incredibly diverse and well equipped for their various climates and terrains. From tiny Shetland ponies to the large and powerful horses of the Bulgarian mountains, the kinds and types of equines on our planet are as different and unique as the climates that call earth home. So, wherever you reside on this glorious little blue and green gem, know that there is probably a herd of equines near you that labored through thick and thin to call that area home!