Horse Breeds From Portugal

The end of another week and a good time to visit another exotic location and learn about the ineresting horse breeds it’s given rise to. Looking at each breed in the context of their origins is a fascinating ride, & today a peek at the breeds from Portugal.

Iberian Greats

Portugal isn’t a large country and its horse breeding is closely tied with that of Spain. Their breeds clearly share common ancestors as they both display the noble Iberian traits. Both the Alter Real & the Lusitano are good examples of this with their stout composition and grandiose demeanor.

Really Old Horses

Portugal is home to several incredibly old equine animals. The Garrano Pony has been around since prehistoric times – their likeness is depicted in Paleolithic Era cave paintings in the area. The Sorraia also comes from Portugal, although it is not actually a breed, but rather the ancestors of a wild horse that was indigenous to parts of the Iberian peninsula. Remarkably adaptable, Sorraia animals were often taken by explorers to the New World. This explains the grulla coloring and primitive markings of many breeds found in the Americas.

Image from Domingos Xavier

Portuguese Horse Breeds

Alter-Real
Anglo-Luso
Azores Horse
Garrano Pony
Lusitano
Marajoara
Sorraia

Horses of the World

There is a whole worlds worth of countries to visit, so be sure to keep yourself updated. Please let me know in the comments below if I’m missing any horses of Portugal & check back next week for the breeds of Scotland.