Imagine a steppe where the wind drives sand, and a herd appears on the horizon. This is not an animated film. These are wild horses. A symbol of freedom, unbridled strength, and beauty. When we say "wild horse," the image of a mustang, a hero of Westerns, comes to mind. But in reality, there are only two true wild horse species left on the planet. All the others are feral descendants of domesticated horses, escaped or released by humans. Populations of wild horses today are islands of wild nature in a rapidly urbanizing world. Let's embark on a journey through these herds.

True wild horses: the Przewalski horse

The only remaining true wild horse species is the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). It has never been domesticated. Discovered by the Russian traveler Nikolai Przhevalsky in 1878 in Mongolia. In the 20th century, the species was on the verge of extinction: by the 1960s, only a few dozen individuals remained in the wild. Thanks to breeding programs in zoos and reintroduction, the population now numbers about 2,000 individuals. They inhabit reserves in Mongolia, China, as well as acclimatized populations in Kazakhstan (Altyn-Emel National Park), southern Russia (Orenburg Reserve, Pre-Ural Steppe Zone), Ukraine (Chernobyl Exclusion Zone). The Przewalski horse has a stocky body, a short neck, a large head, a dark mane without a forelock, brown-savannah fur in the summer, and lighter fur in winter.

Mustangs: the symbol of the Wild West

Mustangs are descendants of Spanish horses that were set free or escaped in North America in the 16th-17th centuries. The word "mustang" (from Spanish mestengo) means "unowned, wild." In the 19th century, there were millions of them. By the 1900s, the population had sharply decreased due to capture, extermination by ranchers, and the destruction of the habitat. Today, under the protection of the Wild Horse and Burro Act (1971) in the United States, there are about 60,000 mustangs, mainly in the states of Nevada, Wyoming, and Montana. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulates the population to avoid overpopulation. Mustangs are the pride of American prairies, a symbol of freedom. They are diverse in color: bay, sorrel, black, piebald. They live in herds of 5-20 individuals under the leadership of a stallion.

Brumbies: wild horses of Australia

In Australia, wild horses are called brumbies. They are descendants of horses that escaped from European settlers in the 19th century. Their population is huge — up to 400,000 individuals (by various estimates). Brumbies inhabit the Australian Alps, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. They harm the ecosystem: trample vegetation, compete with local kangaroos, cause soil erosion. The government periodically conducts helicopter shooting, which causes protests from animal rights defenders. However, it is necessary to control the population, as brumbies are an invasive species for Australian flora. The famous poem "The Man from Snowy River" by Banjo Paterson celebrated the brumbies in culture. They are also captured and tamed — brumbies make excellent riding horses.

Camargue horses: horses from salty marshes

In the Camargue region of southern France, in the delta of the Rhône, live semi-wild camargue horses (Camargue). They have a gray color (they turn white with age), a low stature (1.35-1.50 m). Their origin is ancient — they may be descendants of prehistoric horses. They live in herds on protected territory of the regional natural park Camargue. Horses are used for traditional work as well as for tourist excursions. Their population is controlled by local farmers-gauchos. Some horses remain wild, but many are considered "semidomesticated" because they are monitored and periodically driven. Camargue horses are the symbol of Provence, their images can be seen on souvenirs.

Bant (Canadian wild horses)

In Canada, in the province of British Columbia, there are so-called "bant" (B.C. Wild Horses). They are descendants of horses of gold prospectors, farmers, and Indigenous people. Their population is estimated at a few thousand. The most famous populations are at Lake Shuswap (Chilcotin) and in the Kootenay Mountains. Canadian wild horses are sturdy, hardy, often black or bay. They live in harsh conditions, all year round finding food under the snow. There is also a problem of population regulation in Canada, but the attitude towards wild horses is more careful than in Australia.

Wild horses on islands: Assateague, Sable, Shetland

On Assateague Island (east coast of the United States), there are famous wild ponies. They are small in size (about 1.2 m). According to legend, their ancestors were saved from a Spanish shipwreck. Every year in late July, "pennings" are held — rounding up horses, examining them, and selling young individuals to control the population. On Sable Island (Nova Scotia, Canada), wild horses have been living since the 1700s, descendants of animals seized from settlers or abandoned. The population is stable (about 500 heads), they belong to no one. On the Shetland Islands (Scotland), there are wild ponies, but mainly Shetland ponies — a domestic breed. Wild populations also exist in Portugal (sorraia), Spain (retimar), Japan (Toto Island).

Problems of conserving wild horses

The first problem is genetic depletion. The small population of the Przewalski horse threatens inbreeding. Scientists keep pedigrees, exchange individuals between zoos. The second is conflict with agriculture. Mustangs and brumbies compete for pastures with domestic livestock. Farmers demand shooting. The third is a lack of waterholes during droughts. The fourth is diseases transmitted from domestic horses. The fifth is political problems: there is no unified policy for managing populations in the United States and Australia. The sixth is the problem of feral horses from an ecological point of view: in Australia and North America, they are considered an invasive species, disrupting the fragile balance.

How to help wild horses

You can support organizations involved in the conservation of wild horses: American Wild Horse Campaign, Return to Freedom (USA), Save the Brumbies (Australia), Association pour la sauvegarde du cheval de Przewalski (France). Do not buy souvenirs made from the skins of wild horses. When traveling, choose eco-tours for observation, not hunting. Education: tell your friends about the uniqueness of the Przewalski horse, the problems of mustangs. If you live in a region where there are wild horses, maintain distance, do not feed them (this makes them dependent on humans and dangerous).

The future of wild horses

The Przewalski horse is a story of success: the species was saved from complete extinction. New populations are planned to be created in Spain, Hungary, and southern Russia. The fate of mustangs and brumbies remains uncertain. Cloning? It is not yet applied. Perhaps in 20 years, most wild horses will live only in large protected reserves, and only symbols will remain free. But for now, the gallop of a wild herd across the prairie is one of the most captivating sights on Earth. Let's preserve it for future generations.

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