Przewalski's Horse

Named after the man responsible for its official discovery, explorer and naturalist Nikolai Przhevalsky, the Przewalski Horse is considered the world’s last example of a wild horse subspecies. Never domesticated, the breed was first observed in the 15th century, although it was not seen again until Przhevalsky’s discovery some centuries later.

Native to Mongolia, the existence of the distinctive Przewalski’s Horse has been threatened at points in its history due to inbreeding, loss of resources and habitat, and hunting practices.

It is estimated that only 12 horses remained by the 1950s and global foundations for preservation were established to try and protect the breed from extinction. In 1992, 16 Przewalski’s horses were returned to the wild, although the majority can still be found in captivity.

The breed is known by several different names including the Mongolian Wild Horse, the Tahki (meaning ‘spirit’ in Mongolian), and the Asian Wild Horse. Characteristically, the horse has short legs, a stocky well-balanced conformation, and an erect mane that is usually dark. Typical coat colours range from dun to pale brown, and light striping is often found on the legs.

Although these horses are native to Mongolia, they could once be found in Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, China and Kazakhstan.