Discover the 10 Oldest Horse Breeds in the World

Horses were one of the last livestock species to be domesticated. Horses evolved in North America over millions of years, starting in the Eocene epoch, and spread to other continents over time. The first horses were domesticated in the Eurasian steppes around 5,500 years ago. There is no evidence of a human on horseback until its appearance in Mesopotamian art, at least a few hundred years after the first evidence of domestication.

The first evidence of a close human-horse relationship comes from the Botai in Northern Kazakhstan. They milked horses, ate their meat, and most likely domesticated them for the first time. Without a human interest in horses, they most likely would be extinct. As the plains shrank and Europe became forested at the end of the last Ice Age, horses were pushed out to the Eurasian steppe. In the Americas, native wild horses went extinct because they weren’t domesticated.

Today there are more than two hundred different breeds of horses that all originated from the same common ancestor. Let’s discover the oldest horse breeds in the world and discuss some details about each type of animal.

#10 Garrano Pony

Garranos can be officially dated back to the 15th century since they are the direct ancestors of more recently developed New World breeds. Garrano ponies are a semiferal Portuguese breed that reaches up to 13 hands in height. Celtic ponies were most likely brought to the Iberian Peninsula around 3,500 years ago, and these individuals gave rise to today’s Garrano ponies.

They’re quick learners who like to work. They also have a friendly demeanor and are usually a chestnut color with white markings. Unfortunately, their population is quickly declining, with their main predator being wolves. There are a little over 2,000 wild individuals left today, and they are all found in the mountains of northern Portugal.

#9 Exmoor Pony

The Exmoor pony was first recorded a little over 900 years ago. It comes from the region of England of the same name. They are most likely the descendants of ponies released during the Roman invasions, known as Celtic ponies.

Exmoors are rarely more than 12 hands tall. There are large captive-bred populations, and a small group of wild individuals remains in their home range on the moors. Sometimes wild ponies are taken to breed with domesticated ponies to maintain desired characteristics.

#8 Icelandic Horses

Icelandic horses have been around for over 1,000 years. Viking settlers brought the ancestors of these small horses with them when they settled in Iceland. They’re about 13 to 14 hands high and are known for their sure-footedness. They are also capable of two extra gaits on top of the usual four recognized in other horses.

These horses have a long history; traditionally, they were used to herd sheep. They continue to be used this way by some people. Icelandic horses remain purebred in their native territory because Iceland bars any importation of horses. Any Icelandic horse that leaves Iceland is not allowed to return. This has protected the original population from blending with other horse breeds. The Icelandic Althing, a parliament, prohibited importations in 982 AD. This was in response to crossbreeding that occurred and resulted in undesired traits. The breed has been purebred since the passage of these original protection laws. 

#7 Eriskay Pony

Eriskay ponies date back approximately 1,200 years, though this estimate may be off by a few hundred years. There is evidence of domestication by Pictish, Celtic, and Norse cultures. They were bred to be friendly, and the harsh conditions of their homeland favored small and resilient animals. They typically have a maximum height of 13 hands and grow a particularly thick winter coat that helps them withstand the harsh winter conditions.

These ponies were isolated on Scotland’s Outer Hebrides isles until the mid-19th century when they interbred with other horses. However, on the island of Eriskay, they remained unchanged. Most existing ponies are still in Scotland. They were brought back from the brink of extinction, but there are still fewer than 500 alive today.

#6 Arabian Horses

Arabian horses are one of the most influential breeds in history, as these horses are a cornerstone to developing most of today’s horse breeds, including the modern Thoroughbred. Arabian horses were likely used in Rome, Ancient Egypt, and Greece. They originated with the Bedouin tribe in the Middle East, and as a result of living in such a harsh habitat, they are particularly tolerant of dry and hot environments. They are also renowned for their stamina, making them great for endurance races or rides.

#5 Norwegian Fjord Horses

Norwegian Fjord horses originated in the mountains of Norway, and their ancestors were domesticated around 4,000 years ago during the Viking period. Norwegian Fjord horses are always dun-colored or variations of dun, and average between 13.1 and 14.3 hands. They have a strong, sturdy build, resembling a small draft horse, and have historically been used for farm work, such as plowing the fields.

#4 Asturcon Pony

The Asturcon pony lives in Northern Spain. It’s been documented for around 2,000 years, as it was mentioned by Pliny the Elder. It’s a descendant of the Celtic pony, and it shares ancient ancestors with other Iberian ponies. Two distinct populations of Acturcon ponies likely divided around the time of the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. Although these ponies are endangered in the wild, they are well maintained as domesticated animals.

#3 Akhal-Teke

Akhal-Teke horses used to be called Nisean horses, and they’ve been around for at least 3,000 years. They’re probably descended from an ancient extinct breed called the Turkoman horse. Akhal-Tekes are a Turkmen breed. There are around 6,600 of them living in Turkmenistan, though there are some small populations kept by equine lovers around the world. Akhal-Tekes are also known as golden horses because their coat gives off a metallic gold shine in the sun.

#2 Mongolian Horses

Mongolian horses have been present on the Eurasian Steppe for about 10,000 years and were domesticated around 5,500 years ago. This ancient horse breed is the national breed of Mongolia. It dates back to Genghis Khan’s rule of the Mongol Empire a little over a thousand years ago. They’re still important to the nomads in Mongolia, and there are estimated to be more of these horses than there are people in the country. Mongolian horses are small but stocky, with heights ranging typically between 12 and 14 hands. They have a wide range of uses, including transportation, racing, meat, milk, and as war horses.

#1 Przewalski Horses

Przewalski horses are an ancient breed, widely considered to be a separate subspecies, with a lineage that diverged from domestic horses tens of thousands of years ago.

These horses were the last truly wild horses on earth. They lived in Mongolia and went extinct in the wild during the last half of the 20^th century. There are still captive-bred Przewalski horses, and the population has increased from less than 100 individuals to around 2,000 due to reintroduction programs across several countries. These horses have a stocky build and only reach a max height of around 14 hands.

Honorable Mention: The Caspian Horse

The Caspian Horse, also known as moulek or pouseki horses, could be 5,000 years old, but for about a thousand years, it was thought to be extinct. Its country of origin is Iran, but it was found across the Middle East. This breed produces a small, placid trotting horse with grace and exceptional leaping abilities. A typical Caspian weighs 400-600 pounds and is 10 to 12 hands high.

In 1957, an Iranian aristocrat in Tehran, Narcy Firouz, and his American-born wife, Louise Laylin, were looking for small, calm horses appropriate for training children how to ride. Hearing reports of tiny horses in some isolated villages above the Caspian Sea, they found a few unique, little horses and created a facility for the breed’s preservation.

The conformation of the Caspian horse is more similar to that of a horse than a pony. Its characteristics include a high croup, a vaulted brow, small legs, and a dense coat. Caspians can be just about any color. How lucky that this breed was rediscovered and saved!