15 rare horse breeds from Great Britain and around the world
Discover rare breeds from across the globe
Do you have a handle on the world’s rare horse breeds?
All over the world lie elusive and rare breeds that you should definitely know about, many of which are British native breeds. Organisations such as the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) and individual breed societies oversee populations and campaign for the breeds’ conservation.
Here, we bring you a selection of rare horse breeds from across the globe, and some interesting facts about them…
Rare British horse breeds
1. The Dales pony
- Height: 14hh–14.2hh
- Colour(s): black, brown, grey, bay and roan
- Place of origin: the Pennines region
- RBST status: Priority breed
The Dales pony is native to the upper dales of the eastern slopes of the Pennine range, from the High Peak in Derbyshire to the Cheviot Hills near the Scottish Border.
The breed originates from the crossing of Scotch Galloways used for pack work in the 17th Century, and native mares. According to the Dales Pony Society: “it was that the black Galloways of the mixed herds eventually superseded the Scotch Galloway, and eventually became the Dales Pony through a series of improvements from several sources.”
Bloodlines from the now extinct regional trotter (or roadster) breeds also helped develop the Dales pony we know and love today.
According to the Dales Pony Society: “the combination of strength, agility, thrift, hardiness and high courage, with good conformation and a calm, intelligent nature, makes the Dales Pony a first-class riding and driving pony with all the abilities of a true all-rounder.”
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2. The Cleveland Bay
- Height: 16hh–16.2hh
- Colour(s): traditionally bay with black points, with a small white star the only permitted white marking
- Place of origin: the Cleveland Hills, Yorkshire
- RBST status: Priority breed
The Cleveland Bay horse can be traced back to the Chapman horse of the 17th century. According to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, it is the oldest established native British breed.
In former times, the only acceptable colour was solid bay in colour with no white with the possible exception of a very small star. Nowadays, horses outside this breed standard can still be registered to protect their genetic value to the breed. However, their passport/studbook will note the deviation.
Initially bred in the Cleveland Hills, farmers used Cleveland Bays on the land, for riding and as pack animals.
The Cleveland Bay Horse Society acts as guardian of the breed. Formed in 1884 to preserve and promote the breed, it continues its role today.
The Royal family have given the breed a great boost. The late Queen’s grandfather had been a breeder of Cleveland bays in the 1920’s, and The late Queen purchased a Cleveland Bay colt named Mulgrave Supreme. They have been known to pull Royal carriages.
3. The Exmoor pony
- Height: 12hh–13.2hh
- Colour(s): bay, brown or black, typically with pale points (mealy markings) on the face, especially around the eyes, flanks and inside the legs
- Place of origin: Exmoor, Devon
- RBST status: Priority breed
Ponies have been on Exmoor since ancient times, and this environment shaped their size, characteristic hardiness, independent spirit and native intelligence. Many consider Exmoor ponies one of the country’s oldest pony breeds, roaming the land for approximately the last 5,000 years.
In 1818, the crown sold the Royal Forest of Exmoor to industrialist John Knight. The outgoing Warden, Sir Thomas Acland, took 30 of the ponies and founded the Acland herd (now known as the Anchor herd) running on Winsford Hill. Farmers from Withypool and Hawkridge, who had worked for the warden, also bought stock at the dispersal sale and founded several herds which still exist.
Although some breed Exmoor ponies on studs throughout the country, herds of semi-feral free-ranging ponies still run on the moor.
The late 1940s nearly saw the demise of the Exmoor pony.
Today, while still a rare breed, they are a popular riding pony for children and small adults.
4. The Eriskay pony
- Height: 12hh–13.2hh
- Colour(s): grey, occasionally black or bay
- Place of origin: Eriskay, Outer Hebrides
- RBST status: Priority breed
The Eriskay pony is among the last surviving remnants of the original native ponies of the Western Isles of Scotland.
Essential to the crofting community, this breed was instrumental in the retrieval of seaweed and peat for fertiliser and fires. People also used them for transport and all kinds of farm work.
Unfortunately, like many rare horse breeds, the Eriskay declined in the 19th century due to the advent of farm machinery. By the early 1970s, there were only 20 pure-breds on the remote island of Eriskay, so a dedicated group of people got together in an attempt to increase numbers. The Eriskay Pony Society was founded in 1995.
According to the breed society, there are around 420 Eriskays left in the world.
5. The Suffolk Horse
- Height: 16.1hh–17.2hh
- Colour(s): chestnut, from dark liver to light red
- Place of origin: Suffolk, England
- RBST status: Priority breed
The Suffolk horse is the oldest breed of heavy horse to exist in its present form. They are also known as the Suffolk Punch. In local Suffolk dialect, their chestnut colour is called ‘chesnut’ without the ‘t’.
The earliest stud book of any heavy horse breed, and all modern Suffolks, are descended from just one horse, Crisp’s Horse of Ufford, which was born in 1768.
During the First World War, the strong horse was a popular working animal. Consequently, there were 1000s of Suffolks residing throughout East Anglia. They were known for their ability to be used for draught work and forestry
The rare breed declined rapidly when farmers swapped horses for tractors and machinery, and in 1966 there were only nine Suffolk foals registered.
Today, they are a popular cross to produce heavy sports and show horses, and they are being increasingly seen in ridden heavy horse classes.
6. The Hackney
- Height: 12.2hh–14hh (pony), 14hh–16.2hh (horse)
- Colour(s): solid colours, such as black, bay and chestnut, with white markings
- Place of origin: Norfolk and Suffolk
- RBST status: Priority breed
The Hackney had its origins in the Norfolk and Yorkshire Roadsters (trotting horses) of the 18th and 19th centuries, but is first mentioned in medieval times.
Early thoroughbred stallions had a great influence on the breed. According to the RBST: “Following improvements in the roads during the 16th and 17th century there was an increased demand for carriage horses and the highest status symbol was to be seen out in a stylish equipage with proud high-stepping horses.”
Known to trot at high speed for extended periods, these slender, muscular and elegant animals were perfect for the job. In 1883, the Hackney Horse Society and Stud Book was formed.
The signature high-stepping action characterises both the horse and pony versions of the breed. Efforts to preserve the breed include highlighting its versatility as a driving, riding and show horse.
Rare horse breeds from around the world
7. The Sorraia
- Height: 13.3hh–14.4hh
- Colour(s): dun of all kinds with primitive markings
- Place of origin: Portugal
Sorraia horses are a remnant population of an indigenous, South Iberian wild horse, which survived in the formerly inaccessible lowlands of the river Sorraia in Portugal until the early 1900s.
The Iberian scientist and horse expert Dr Ruy d’Andrade discovered these horses in 1920 and is responsible for their preservation.
Occasionally, locals caught the horses to train for herding and farming. However, the population is largely feral.
Today, there are only 200–300 Sorraias. Private owners hold most of this population.
All Sorraias descend from only 11 or 12 animals that d’Andrade secured in the 1930s, and in-breeding is therefore incredibly high.
8. The American Cream Draft Horse
- Height: 13.5hh–16.3hh
- Colour(s): pale cream to gold with a white mane and tail
- Place of origin: Iowa, US
The American Cream Draft is a relatively new breed and is the only draft breed to have originated in the United States. Varying reports say there are between 250 and 400 in the world.
Many believe that the Cream traces its roots back to a draft-type mare named Old Granny. She is believed to have been foaled around the turn of the last century in Iowa and was cream in colour.
Gaining popularity in the 1930s, an owner called Clarence T Rieson was especially proactive in breeding Creams. Sadly, they became popular just as mechanisation began making working horses obsolete.
The American Cream Draft Horse was recommended for recognition by the National Stallion Enrolment Board in 1948. In 1950 they were recognised as standard by the Iowa Board of Agriculture.
9. The Curly Horse (American Bashkir Curly Horse)
- Height: 14hh–16hh
- Colour(s): any
- Place of origin: Nevada, US
While there is no real limit to a Curly Horse’s size, colour and type, all carry a gene for a unique curly coat of hair.
Curlies are claimed to be the only hypoallergenic horse breed. They originated in North America with less than 1000 in the world today. Some say that a man named Peter Damele discovered them at the turn of the 20th century. He spotted curly-coated horses while riding out in the Nevada desert.
The American Bashkir Curly Registry, the first breed registry, formed in 1971.
Most of today’s curly horses have ancestry to one or more of the three stallions Copper D, Curly Jim or Eli Bad Warrior’s sire (name unknown).
The British Curly Horse and Pony society was founded in 2010.
10. The Marwari Horse
- Height: 14hh–15.1hh
- Colour(s): any
- Place of origin: Marwari (Jodhpur)
The Marwari Horse descends from the mounts of the Rajput warriors. A slender, elegant horse, it is recognisable for its inward-turned ear tips, which sometimes touch. With their lineage traced back to Arabian and Mongolian horses, this detail could link them to the Kathiawari horse.
The breed sadly fell out of favour with British colonisers, who preferred the thoroughbred.
Because the breed was rare and faced extinction, an export ban was placed in the 1930s and no Marwari horses were able to leave India. In 2000, Francesca Kelly in the United States received the first shipment of six horses.
Today, the breed is still rare with fewer than 5,000 purebred horses in the entire world.
11. German Black Forest Horse
- Height: 14.2hh–16hh
- Colour(s): chestnut (any shade) with a flaxen mane and tail
- Place of origin: The Black Forest, southern Germany
This striking, cold-blooded, light draft horse originates from the Black Forest of southern Germany, where breeding dates back to the 15th century. The records of the Abbey of Saint Peter in the Black Forest.
A versatile breed, they were originally used for farm work and forestry. Today, many people ride and drive them.
The rare German Black Forest Horse has many names. These include Schwarzwälder Füchs, Schwarzwälder Kaltblut, Wälder Horse, and Saint Märgener.
As of 2017, it was recorded that there was a population of 88 stallions and 1,077 mares, and one of the key breeding programmes is at the Marbuch Stud horse farm in Germany.
12. The Canadian Horse
- Height: 14hh–16hh
- Colour(s): most commonly black, but other colours appear
- Place of origin: Quebec, Canada
The Canadian Horse became the country’s national horse in 2002 and is registered as ‘at risk’ by Heritage Livestock Canada due to dwindling numbers. There are around 6,000 animals globally.
Canadian horses descend from a load of Spanish, Norman and Breton-bred horses sent to Canada in 1665 by King Louis XIV to his subjects in New France. From those foundation horses, a distinct breed of horse emerged, and became known as ‘Le Petit Cheval de Fer’ or ‘The Little Iron Horse’.
The Canadian Horse Breeders Association says the breed is known for “its calm and willing disposition, excellent feet, stamina and strength”. Additionally, the breed is understood to have influenced the Morgan horse.
13. The Caspian Horse
- Height: 10hh–12hh
- Colour(s): any solid colour
- Place of origin: ancient Persia (modern day Iran)
Caspian horses average only 11.2hh but despite their height, they considered horses rather than ponies due to their conformation.
The rare horse breed dates back to ancient Persia, at least as far as 3,000 B.C. Experts now believe the Caspian to be the forerunner to the Arab horse and therefore to most of the hot-blooded horses in existence today.
Caspians have spectacular action as well as speed. The breed underwent a resurgence when native Virginian Louise Firouz and her Iranian husband Narcy began a breeding programme, hearing the Caspian was an ideal horse for children.
In the 1970s, the late Prince Philip received a breeding pair of Caspians and conservation developed in the UK. There are fewer than 500 in Britain, and around 2,000 worldwide.
14. The Newfoundland Pony
- Height: 11–14hh
- Colour(s): bay, black, brown, chestnut, dun, grey, roan and white only
- Place of origin: Newfoundland, Canada
According to the Newfoundland Pony Society: “The Newfoundland Pony is known for its strength, courage, intelligence, obedience, and common sense.”
During the later part of the 20th century, the estimated population of 12,000 (1970s) dropped to fewer than 100 in the 1980s.
In 1997, the provincial government of Newfoundland passed the Heritage Animals Act of Newfoundland and Labrador. This Act provided legal protection to the Newfoundland Pony by making it illegal to transport Newfoundland Ponies off the Island without export permits. The Act also designated the Newfoundland Pony Society as the public group responsible for registering, promoting and protecting the Newfoundland Pony.
Truly one of the most rare horse breeds, there are an estimated 500–600 animals in Canada and the US.
15. Akhal-Teke
- Height: 14.2hh–16hh
- Colour(s): any colour with a metallic sheen, but frequently palamino, cremello and perlino with pale eyes
- Place of origin: Karakum desert, Turkmenistan
Developed for endurance and speed, the Akhal-Teke is one of the oldest domesticated horse breeds, with links as far back as a 6th-century Siberian burial site. Here, archaeologists discovered equine remains similar to the Akhal-Teke. According to legend, Macedonian King Alexander the Great once rode them.
In 1881, Turkmenistan became a part of the Russian Empire and the first official breeding farms of Akhal-Tekes were established. Numbers declined due to the turmoil that marked the early days of Soviet Russia.
The breed came to the United States in 1972. In the same year, the breed registry began with the founding of the Akhal-Teke Association of America.
This rare horse breed possesses great athletic ability and crossing with thoroughbreds and sport horses is common. There are an estimated 6,600 in the world.
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A horse owner and rider with more than 20 years experience, Bethany has been writing for equestrian publications since 2017. Over the course of her career, she has reported from major British Riding Clubs and British Dressage championships, covered Badminton Horse Trials and interviewed equestrian sport’s best athletes. Her work can also be found in Country Life, The Field and Breathe magazine.