Like most of the sport horse or warmblood breeds, the Português de Desporto or Portuguese Sport Horse is more of a type. Registered based on performance, registries utilize a mix of excellent genetics from different breeds to generate animals with good temperament and athletic ability.
Read more
The Sorraia is thought to be the last remnant of wild horses that lived across most of the Iberian Peninsula, including parts of Spain and 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’.
Read more
A close brother to the mighty Andalusian, Lusitanian, Puro Sangue Lusitano or Lusitano horses share some of the oldest bloodlines around.
Read more
Also called Minho, Garrano do Minho, Trás os Montes, the Garrano is a prehistoric Portuguese pony which has adapted to the climate and 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.
Read more
The Terceira Pony or 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.
Read more
The Anglo-Luso comes from Portugal and began with the crossing of local Lusitano mares with English Thoroughbred stallions. Although many Portuguese people objected to the cross-breeding, considering it a pollution to their purebred animals.
Read more
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.
Read more