There are feral horse herds found throughout both American continents, from Chile to Canada. Alberta Wild Horses have been documented in the province since the early 17th century, likely originally introduced by the French.
A Little Backstory
The French breed a variety of heavy types that would have been suitable for exploring, their most famous ancestor in the country being the handsome, robust Canadian Horse. Over the years, mining and logging industries imported heavy work horses to the area, which contributed to feral genetics from time to time.
What Makes Them Special
The genetics of most feral types found in the Americas come from Iberian stock. Of course other European countries imported their animals and many of them became popular. However the herds of feral horses seem to come mostly from animals brought over for exploration and left to their own devices when no longer needed. Herds in Alberta bear the distinction of coming from differing stock than most of the other mustang types.
There is quite a bit of controversy surrounding the management practices of wild horses found in Alberta. Their unique genetics are probably part of the drive for their conservation. Although a patriotic love of animals that have been part of the landscape for centuries may be a stronger drive. Like in the US, feral horses have to compete for resources with ranches and farming. Wild horses will almost always be the losers in that situation, often on taxpayers dime. To learn more about the breed, be sure to check out the Alberta Wild Horse page.
Quick Facts
Native to Canada.
There doesn’t appear to be an official studbook kept.
Listed in the DAD-IS as critical, their most recent population data was in 2017 when there were between 16-50 animals.