Intro
The Baguales is a feral horse found in the Pampas region of Argentina. This is a tough, robust horse that is able to withstand highly variable climatic conditions.
Origins
The Baguales breed originated in the 16th Century when Spanish stock was introduced to Argentina by conquistadors. Some animals escaped or were released to form feral herds that roamed the Pampas of the Rio de la Plata near Buenos Aires.
The blood of this breed, along with that of horses from Brazil, Uruguay and Chile contributed to the blood of the Argentine Criollo.
Adding New Blood
Early in the 19th century the British introduced Thoroughbreds to Argentina and later the French brought Percherons. The introduction of their blood to the local animals, diluting the highly Spanish bloodlines.
In 1917, the Argentinians took measures to preserve their Criollo by selecting 200 choice mares and keeping them exclusively for breeding. The name of the breed was changed to Argentine Criollo (even though Brazilian and Uruguayan Criollos are of the same type/ancestry).
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