Portugal Category

Sorraia Horse

Sorraia Horse

Image © Sorraia.org

Intro

The Sorraia is thought to be the last remnant of wild horses that lived across most of the Iberian Peninsula, including parts of Spain & Portugal. Although we call them a breed today, they are actually what remains of an indigenous wild horse. Only recently, after the Portuguese National Stud took over registration of these animals, have they been promoted as a ‘breed’.
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Garrano Pony

Garrano Horse

Image from MariaCartas

Intro

Also called Minho, Garrano do Minho, Trás os Montes, the Garrano is a prehistoric Portuguese pony which has adapted to the climate & geography in the northern mountain regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Cave paintings from the Paleolithic era describe a pony that is the ancestor of today’s breed.
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Azores Horse

Azores Horse

Image from Domingos Xavier

Intro

The Azores is an ancient breed native to Portugal with very little formal documentation, there is not much known about the Azores breed. These animals are different from most of the Iberian ponies, as their confirmation is more of a small horse than a pony.
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Alter Real Horse

Intro

The Alter Real breed comes from Alter de Chao, a small town in the Alentejo province of Portugal, where the flagship stud is still located. Real is the word for ‘royal’ in Portuguese, the Alter Real is the Royal breed of Alter.
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