As is popularly documented, horses have been around forever. There are over 600 horse breeds in the world today, some of which are struggling to survive. Sadly these horse breeds are joining the vast list of animals which are considered endangered species and could be wiped out within a generation. Despite conservation efforts and legal protections, some of these breeds are still struggling to survive in the 21st Century. Here now are some rarest horse breeds in the world.
Shire
Shire horses get their name from the rural “shires,” or counties, in England, where they were traditionally used for agriculture, heavy hauling, and war. Today, there are fewer than 2,000 Shire Horses left in the world. However, this is actually the best the breed has done since the 1960s when they nearly went extinct. Their popularity is growing; partially because they're such versatile horses. These are incredibly rugged animals. Their ancestors carried knights into battle, requiring awesome strength and bravery. Later, they were used for various work tasks, including farm labor and hauling; particularly over the roughest terrain. They were even used in forestry to haul in places that mechanized vehicles weren't able to reach.
Cleveland Bay
The Cleveland Bay is a rare horse breed dating back to 17th century England. As the name suggests, they are always bay in color. The breed was bred from the crossing of pack horses with Arabian, Thoroughbred, and Andalusian horses. They are a popular choice for driving and farm work and show jumping and fox hunting.
Several sources estimate the breed's worldwide population to be under 900, with around 300 horses left in the United Kingdom. The Cleveland Bay was Britain's most endangered native equine breed in 2018, with only 64 broodmares left in the country.
Akhal-Teke
The Akhal-Teke is likely to be the best-known horse on this list because of its stunning coat. They come in bay, chestnut, black, grey, and cream. The cream is the most popular because it brings out the shiny, metallic characteristic that this horse's coat is known to have.
The Akhal-Teke originates from Turkmenistan, where they are recognized as the national horse breed. They first developed thousands of years ago because of the desertification in Central Asia, so nomadic tribes could travel quickly across long distances. They are one of the oldest existing horse breeds we have today.
The Akhal-Teke is threatened due to inbreeding, even though they were prized for many years in Central Asia.
Eriskay Pony
Originally known as the Western Isle Ponies, this lovely breed is native to the Hebridian Islands in Scotland and is known for its calm temperament and how well adapted it is to the harsh, cold conditions in the far north of the UK. These ponies were, and arguably still are, very important to the islanders, being used to carry seaweed, pull carts and even take children to school. Nowadays the number of these beautiful creatures has fallen to less than 300. They are making a comeback, however, due to conservation efforts and their use in equine therapy.
Hackney Horse
In the last 20 years put together, only 728 Hackney Horses have been registered in the US, making them one of the rarest breeds in America. As of today, there are fewer than 200 of these majestic creatures in America. They're not doing much better worldwide and are considered to be endangered. These horses have a very flashy gait with high-stepping knees and are excellent for driving as well as showing in the ring.
Dales Pony
Dales Ponies are incredibly regal-looking steeds with flowing black manes and tails and hair around their hooves that make it look like they're wearing boots. Though they were classified as endangered, they've recently been moved up to critical status, which means they're in even deeper trouble than some of the other breeds on this list.
Interestingly, Dales Ponies were originally used for mining. During and after the World Wars, their numbers fell drastically. Currently, despite their impressive appearance, there are fewer than 3,000 Dales Ponies alive.
American Cream Horse
Unlike most other horse breeds of today, the American Cream horse only has one color: a beautiful champagne-cream-colored coat with amber eyes. They have a beautiful appearance and are wonderful show horses when cared for properly. Even with all this beauty, they are still becoming an endangered breed due to mechanization in the agricultural industry.
These horses were only developed in the 20th century, which is part of the reason for their downfall. Their short history right around the time that the agricultural industry became mostly mechanized led to low breeding popularity. There are currently only 2,000 of these horses left in the world, even though they are the only draft breed horse native to America.
Sorraia
Sorraia horses were virtually unknown to the wider world until the 20th century. They are native to the Iberian Peninsula, primarily from Portugal. These are thought to have been one of the oldest indigenous horse breeds that lived wild on the peninsula. Cave paintings have been found that support this idea.
Sorraia horses are scarce. They are hardy and intelligent breeds with a grulla coloring. A couple of breeders in their native area work hard to preserve them, but there are still only 200 left in the world and only in Portugal and Germany.
Suffolk Punch
Horses have been used for challenging labor for thousands of years. Draft horses came about because of this, and the Suffolk Punch was one of the first of these strong draft horses. They date back to the 18th century when they were developed in Suffolk county in England to plough through the area's heavy clay soil. They are healthy, docile, and have a great deal of stamina. Due to all these traits, the Suffolk Punch horse was largely drafted into the military in World War II. After the war, they were replaced by machines, and their breeding fell to the wayside. There are only about 600 of them in the U.S. and 200 in the U.K., putting them in a critically endangered state.
Newfoundland Pony
The Newfoundland Pony gets its name from its most recent breeding grounds, Newfoundland, Canada. They can also be found in the Labrador province. They are initially from northern England, Scotland, and Ireland. They were primarily used as draft horses after they were transported over the ocean for Western settlers.
These horses are a sweet and muscular breed. Nowadays, they are mostly used as riding and show ponies. They were practically brought to extinction due to horse slaughtering and mechanization. Now, they are critically endangered, with a population somewhere between 200 and 250.
Caspian Horse
The Caspian horse is another one of the oldest breeds in the world. Their likeness has been found in artwork dating back to about 3,000 B.C. The breed originates from Iran, where they are currently considered a national treasure and are heavily protected. They have lithe and muscular bodies and weigh between 400 to 600 pounds, standing at around 11 hands tall.
The Caspian horse was believed to be extinct for about 1,300 years. However, in 1965, researchers made a stunning discovery in the wilds of northern Iran. Since then, these horses have been dutifully protected and promoted, and their numbers are steadily on the rise. There are still fewer than 2,000 of them globally, but conservation efforts promise more each year.
The Canadian Horse
The Canadian horse was developed from equine and sent from France to Quebec between 1665 and 1670. The limited number of horses in the colony made them highly valued, and geographical isolation meant that the stock remained pure. The market for Canadian horses was strong throughout the 1800s, and thousands of horses were exported from Canada to the U.S. Many of them became cavalry horses and were killed in the Civil War. So many horses were exported or lost that by 1880, the breed was nearly extinct in Canada. There are an estimated 2,000 Canadian horses alive today, and the future of the breed is looking brighter than at any time in the past century. They are energetic without being nervous, and, as appropriate to their heritage, versatile and adaptable for a variety of riding and driving disciplines.
Exmoor Pony
The Exmoor Pony is another native U.K. horse. They originate from Cleveland, England, and are thought to be one of northern Europe’s ancient horse breeds. This belief is due to their genetic difference, proving a primitiveness when compared to other horse breeds.
Exmoor ponies are best kept in cooler areas that experience winter conditions. They have coarse hair and a double coat to keep them warm and waterproof. They were used for many jobs in the past, and like many other horse breeds, mechanization has largely replaced them. There are currently fewer than 800 of these ponies globally, with most of them located in England.
