Wild Horses of the World

Brumby- This Australian horse is one of the most famous 'feral' breeds after mustangs. Descended from settlers horses that got lose during the gold rush. These horses are not the best quality and there is less demand than for the mustangs. This has led to the usual conflict between horse/animal lovers and frustrated neighbors who find them spilling onto land. Brumbies have been shot do to there numbers. Management is a problem. Info numerous sources including Encyclopedia of the Horse edited by Elwyn Hartlely Edwards 1977 (Crescent Books) & 1994

Kaimanawa-This New Zealand wild horse has no predators. Some claim it is worthless, others claim it has presence and a calm attitude, wild or not. First recorded in 1876 they combine exmoor, Carylon, and welsh. They range from horse to pony size. There is an annual muster to control population. Info from
Kaimanawa Welfare Trust

Camargue-France-The wild white horse of the sea is popular with local cowboys (called guardians) and used in the bull ring. Indigenous, it has a rough pony conformation, has a high step, a good gallop but an uncomfortable trot and is very agile.Info: Encyclopedia of the Horse-edited by Edward Hartley Edwards, 1977 (Crescent Books) 1994 (DK)

Konik-Reintroduced Britain. The European Forest Horse, or Tarpan was hunted to extinction. However they interbred with domestic Polish Konik herds. Scientists in the early 20th century discovered horses with tarpan traits still were born in the herds. With zebra stripes, dark mane and tail and a mouse dun color, they lighten over winter. They took them and bred them until they recreated the tarpan type. The experiment took an odd turn when Nazi's decided it supported the agenda and took over. At the end of World war 2 many were killed by starving people. But the survivors were taken to wildlife preserves. In 2002 they were reintroduced to Britain on wildlife preserves where they once thrived. These include marshy woodlands. They were returned to benefit the environment. Ironic, given how many places wild horses are hunted with destruction of the environment as an excuse. Info: BBC, Encyclopedia of the Horse (see above entry)
Horsetalk.co.uk

Abaco Barb- Bahamas. Only a few horses are left of this rare breed, a definite descendant of the spanish barb. The colors are roan, pinto and bay.The horses were decimated when a road moved through their territory. Now, one small 4 horse herd lives on a preserve and 4 stallions live elsewhere. There are attempts to resurrect the breed to prevent extinction. These horses once lived in the forest. Pony size with the usual broad forehead and low set tail.
Sources: Abaco Wild Horse Fund
Horse Channel

Sable Island- Canada-These ponies live on little more than a sand bank off Nova Scotia. They are naturally small and wiry, descendants of french horses from the 1600s. Info: Encyclopedia of the Horse-Edward Hartley Edwards, 1977 & 1994, Green Horse Society website.GreenHorseSociety

Unnamed- These horses run through forests and are accused of damaging the environment. The opposition consists of loggers who find them in the way. They arrived the same way as the mustangs, via explorers, settlers and natives. They have big hooves, short thick legs and a roman nose and the Xeni Gewitin Horse culture was influenced by them. Info:
Northernhorse

Yakut Horse - is similar to the Icelandic and Shetland. Their coat is thicker and the sturdy animals survive in the incredible harsh siberian environment. The Yakut Horse People keep some of these and ride them nearly everywhere. the horses range in color from bay, gray brown or gray. An occasional roan or mouse gray pop up. They have an unusual grid pattern on the shoulder.
Sources: Wild Russia Animal Planet tv program, Yakutia.org

Hawaiian Wild Horse: currently lives only in Waipio valley also known as the Valley of th Kings. They apparently arrived in the early 1900s and numbers under 200 animals. They face the usual conflict between ranchers and farmers but are also a tourist attraction.
info: Horsetopia forum

Mustangs are well known and there are lots of websites about them. They have various types including Pryor, Kiger, andNokota
As of 2009-2010 massive roundups have taken place, in some cases zeroing whole herds. There are currently more 'wild horses in holding than in the wild! The BLM has forged ahead with the roundups in spite of lawsuits filed by many Wild Horse preservation groups, and they have prevented observers in spite of being ordered to allow the press in by a federal judge. The conflict is ongoing, with lawsuits raging to prevent the roundups.


Chincoteage Ponies live on the island of Assateauge which is partly in Virginia and partly in Maryland. The ponies on the VA side are annually swum across the channel by the Chincoteague Fire department. This pony penning is famous in the US thanks to the Children's book Misty of Chincoteague by Margurite Henry. Proceeds of the auction of the pony foals goes to the fire department and keeps the herd at numbers manageable on the small island sanctuary. The ponies origins are unclear, possibly the descendants of early settlers horses turned loose on the island. However the more romantic notion is that they are survivors of a spanish shipwreck


Shackleford or Banker Ponies live on the island of Shackleford Banks, NC and are the oldest actually documented breed in America. They have spanish bloodlines and too, are believed to be shipwreck survivors.

The wild horses everywhere in the world seem to face the same problems. They roam on land wanted by miners, ranchers, or loggers. They are accused of damaging the landscape. There numbers grow out of control where there are no predators-whether naturally or whether those to have been hunted to extinction. Sometimes the problem is certainly real: land can be overgrazed, they can be a nuisance just as the beautiful deer that starts feeding on the garden or crossing in traffic. Then wild horse enemies shoot to kill and petition the government for the removal.
Wlld Horse Allies contest their methods as being based on politics and profit rather than science. They insist on humane control, roundups with adoptions, birth control, and resist based on politics and profit over scientific evidence. They promote using the horses as a tourist attraction and touting their heritage. It works in places like Shackleford Banks and Chincoteague Programs to use mustangs in prison programs-educating the 'human' prisoner and the horse have proven effective. Horses have one big advantage over the deer in the yard or bear rummaging in garbage. They are partners, helpers in founding nations. They are the stuff of dreams, with millions of children across the world fantasizing about the wild horse galloping, wind blowing mane in our face that only we can ride.
Watch out enemies of that horse. Power and money will buy much. But no matter how old we get, there are many of us who will fight for our dreams and the dreams of the next generation.