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Mongolian Horse

Equus ferus caballus

Mongolian horse on the steppe
Photo: Marcin Konsek — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The steppe horse of the Mongols — a short, tough, half-wild breed of legendary stamina.

TypePonyBest asDraft & drivingOriginAsia

How to spot it

A short, stocky horse of about 12 to 14 hands (122 to 142 cm) with a large head, short strong legs, a thick coat and heavy mane and tail. All colours occur.

Temperament

Hardy, independent and little-handled — most live semi-wild in herds and are caught and ridden as needed rather than stabled.

What it's bred for

The horse that carried Genghis Khan's armies across a continent, bred for endurance over comfort. It is still central to Mongolian herding life, long-distance racing and the fermented mare's-milk drink airag.

Care & upkeep

Among the most self-sufficient of all horses — it lives out year-round on open grazing in extreme cold with little or no human care.

Health & lifespan

A robust, long-lived breed, often 20 to 30 years, kept sound by its hardy, open gene pool and natural lifestyle.

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