(EST status listings reflect the Equus Survival Trust's current web-posted Equine Conservation List.)



Akhal-Teke - TURKMENISTAN
EST Status: CRITICAL
The Akhal-Teke is one of the oldest Oriental (hot-blooded) breeds and probably the oldest of Horse Type III. Research suggests the Akhal-Teke predates the Arabian by at least 1,000 years and recently confirmed the breed influenced the Thoroughbred as foundation stock. In ancient times the Teke reigned as a war horse supreme. Tekes have a wide pallet of brilliant metallic solid colors including palominos and buckskins sporting lithe, athletic builds with sparse manes and tails, long necks and trademark "hooded" eye; movement is extremely fluid, elastic, and forward moving. Temperaments are fierce, bold, and loyal to their human partners. Akhal-Tekes are known for speed and racing is popular in Russia and Central Aisa; the Akhal-Teke also excels in endurance and is competitive in dressage, show jumping, and eventing. Averaging 14.2 to 16 hands, 900-1000 pounds. Global populations are estimated to be around 6,000, with the highest concentrations in Russian and Turkmenistan, and less than 400 in North America.



Banker Pony (Wild Horse) - Outer Bank Islands, North Carolina – USA
EST Status: CRITICAL
Traditionally called Banker Ponies, since the 1500’s these small wild horses have adapted as a landrace to life on the North Carolina Outer Bank islands. Five centuries of special adaptations include the ability to dig for water or drink brackish water, grazing and browsing island vegetation, seeking relief in the ocean surf from biting insects, and surviving seasonal hurricanes. Human interaction introduced crossbreeding in the 20th Century to most of the Banker populations, leaving only the tiny populations on the islands of Corolla and Shackleford in their original landrace state. DNA evidence suggests only minor ancestral differences between the stock on Corolla vs Shackleford populations. Corolla is more related to horses from the original controlling English colonies, while Shackelford indicated some very early New World Spanish influences akin to the founding stock of the Puerto Rican Paso and Venezuelan Criollo. Today's Bankers still live as they have for centuries on the Outer Banks, but civilization is encroaching, threatening safe and suitable habitat, and pressuring the last remaining strongholds of these two populations. One such 21th Century threat is a misguided effort to mix with the fluctuating bloodlines of the Colonial Spanish population types that evolved primarily west of the Mississippi since the 1900’s; this modern threat has permanently mixed and changed all but two of the Banker herds, Corolla and Shackelford. Management for those two populations have taken strong steps to ensure there will be no mixing in these last surviving pure landrace populations other than occasional stallion swaps with each other. Estimated population for original Banker Wild Horses is less than 250.



Carolina Marsh Tacky - South Carolina, USA
EST Status: CRITICAL
As Colonial remnants from a once plentiful southeast coastal breed, the remaining stronghold for the stout, swamp-savvy, trail-wise Carolina Marsh Tacky is today reduced to the Lowcountry in the state of South Carolina. The first 60 DNA Marsh Tacky samples were collected by the Equus Survival Trust in 2007. DNA and visual evidence suggests a close relation to the Florida Cracker, the Shackleford Bankers, and the Puerto Rican Paso through shared connections to Caribbean New World Spanish breeding stations. DNA evidence also suggests Tennessee Walker blood was introduced to the Tacky at some point. Some Tackies have retained a high degree of Iberian type, and most have stayed small averaging 14 to 14.2 hands and weighing 700 to 900 pounds. Most are not gaited, however a few have the Swamp Trot shuffle gait. Up from less than 200 in the 1990's, conservation efforts have increased the numbers slowly to nearly 400, most of which are in South Carolina.



Caspian Horse - IRAN (Persia)
EST Status: CRITICAL
DNA evidence has recently shown the Caspian Horse to be ancestral to all the Oriental breeds. Thought extinct until 1965, Caspians trace to ancient Persia and predate the Arabian horse by at least 1,000 years and is thought to have been foundation stock for that breed. The Caspian is the only living survivor of the Type IV Horse. Small, elegant hot-blooded horses, Caspians average 11 to 12.2 hands and come in a variety of common solid colors, bay being the most prevalent, but some colors include dun, roan, and sabino. Although all Caspians have a single breed standard, three distinct types have been identified: Desert, Hunter, and Steppe. Highly intelligent, with free flowing movement, spectacular shoulder action & agility, Caspians are phenomenal jumpers and athletes in a small package. An excellent driving horse or child's mount, Caspians can carry 120 pounds and have amazing endurance, something they have passed on to the Arabian breed. Current estimates put the global population of the Caspian around 900-1000 with the highest collective numbers now in North America, hovering around 450. Breeding activity and markets are depressed, with likely no more than 500 horses actively breeding. A more collective effort between registries and breeders is needed to stabilize the future of this breed.



Canadian Horse - CANADA
EST Status: THREATENED
Little Iron Horse, the Canadian Horse traces its ancestry to 17th century Canada and the French Royal Stables of Brittany and Normandy. The breed was a major player in the development of early America, and helped found the Morgan Horse breed. Canadian Horse numbers were decimated during the American Civil War to the point of near extinction. The breed rallied slowly and then lost ground again became dangerously low in the 1970's; only an estimated 400 remained. Determined to stave off the extinction of their breed, Canadian breeders made a concerted effort to increase numbers and popularity. Once again the Canadian Horse is making a slow comeback. Athletic & kind with abundant muscling, bone, and heavy mane and tail, and averaging 14-16 hands, the Canadian Horse was made the National horse of Canada in 2002. Solid colors only, with black as the predominant color, there are an estimated 6,000 Canadian Horses with less than an estimated 400 in the USA. Breeding has declined in recent years enough to cause EST to list them in the Critical category until reproduction levels show more stability.



Cleveland Bay - ENGLAND
EST Status: CRITICAL
Developed first as a packhorse and later as a coach and heavy hunter, the Cleveland Bay was bred for strength, soundness, and long distance use. Modern Cleveland Bays still reflect the two types of their founding ancestry: the smaller but powerful packhorse "Chapman", and the taller cart/carriage Yorkshire Coach type. As a warmblood breed free of TB blood for nearly 200 years, the Cleveland Bay mares were often historically (and still occasionally are) used for crossbreeding and to "improve" other breeds. This practice nearly caused the breed's extinction and still plagues it today, making recovery slow. As the name suggests, the Cleveland Bay is always bay, ideally has no more than a small white star and no white leg markings. The Cleveland Bay average 16 plus hands, and weights between 1200-1550 pounds. The Cleveland Bay is known for its calm, dignified, graceful, and tractable manner in a versatile package, and is considered Britain's oldest indigenous horse breed. Global numbers are less than 900 with approximately 170 in North America.



Florida Cracker Horse - Florida, USA
EST Status: CRITICAL
The Florida Cracker Horse is a landrace, shaped partly by the free-roaming herds that escaped from the Spanish explorations and with stock imported from Cuban breeding stations under Spain's rule and partly by the Florida cattle rancher usage, a southern industry that predates even that of the Western cowboy. As it does in any landrace, Nature also played a part shaping the Florida Cracker Horse. With its heat, humidity, and bloodsucking insects, Florida's sub-tropical climate demanded hardiness and adaptations to survive which included horses smaller in height to be thrifty and narrower in frame to expel heat more efficiently. The name "cracker" comes from the Florida cowboys who guarded and herded the cattle from horseback using bull whips sporting popper ends that cracked when popped. The Florida Cracker Horse is still a savvy cow horse with amazing stamina, and is favored by many Florida ranching families for toughness and endurance. Averaging 13 to 15 hands and weighing 600-900 pounds, the Florida Cracker is often gaited and comes in most standard solid colors as well as roan. The estimated population is just over 1,000 horses, primarily in Florida where it is the State Horse and is slowly increasing.



Hackney Horse - ENGLAND
EST Status: CRITICAL
The high stepping, elegant darlings of the by-gone carriage age, the Hackney Horse, has all but disappeared from the landscape, found primarily only in today's show ring. Developed in 14th Century England as a riding horse, the Hackney Horse reinvented itself into a premier flashy carriage horse during the 1700's and early 1800's using stock such as the now extinct Yorkshire and Norfolk Trotters, and several early English Thoroughbreds including Flying Childers, son of the Darley "Arabian". Today's Hackney Horse is still unmatched in high stepping movement and style in the show ring in fine harness or for carriage driving singles, pairs, or four-in-hand, often pulling vintage vehicles with period costumed drivers and attendants. Though less popular as a saddle horse, some Hackney Horses are making a mark in dressage and jumping. Ranging in height from 14-16 hands, Standard colors are bay, brown, black and chestnut, often with lots of white markings, as the breed does carry the sabino gene. The previous fashion of docking tails has long been outlawed in England and is becoming less popular in America. North American populations hover around 200 with a global population of less than 3,000.



Irish Draught - IRELAND
EST Status: CRITICAL
Hailing as early as the 18th century as a breed type, the Irish Draught Horse was created to fill the versatile needs of the Irish farmers - as a riding hack, in harness to pull the family trap to church, as a fearless jumper for the owner to enjoy a cross country hunt, and still be able to help the farmer work his land while remaining sound and thrifty. Foundation breeds are thought to be the now extinct Irish Hobby, 12th Century Anglo-Norman war mounts, a smattering of some 19th and early 20th Century infusions of Scottish Clydesdale, English Thoroughbred, and Irish Connemara Ponies all coming together by the early 20th Century as the Irish Draught we know today. True to its original roots, the Irish Draught has remained an active, versatile partner, a powerful horse of substance, quality, and excellent constitution, with an intelligent and gentle nature. Today, the breed continues to be a sought after sane, sound hunter and jumper with powerful lift and scope. Ranging from 15 to 16 hands plus, with a noticeable difference in gender height, any solid color is acceptable - though white above knees or hocks is not desirable. The Irish Draught is the National Horse of Ireland and is such a popular for crossbreeding for show jumpers and eventing that the purebred mares are often used to produce the Irish Sport Horse; it is this practice of using the purebred mares to cross that has put the breed at risk in modern times. In 1997, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in the UK reported less than 140 breeding mares. In 2007, the global population was estimated to be less than 2,000 individuals. While numbers have increased, annual reproduction trends bear watching.



Lippitt Morgan - New England, USA
EST Status: CRITICAL
While the Morgan Horse as a breed is quite popular and plentiful, the Lippitt Morgan is endangered. A traceable foundation strain and considered the purest of the original Morgan type and with none of the "improvement" breeds used on the modern Morgan. The Lippitt Morgan represents over 200 years of careful line breeding to retain the best bloodlines and the original type of Justin Morgan's horse, Figure. Ranging from 14.1 to 15.2 hands, with wide, pretty heads set on well crested necks, and a longer bottom line than top coupled with strong builds, Lippitts exude power, grace, and versatile agility. The Lippitt comes solid standard colors, with black and bays commonplace. White markings are typically minimal. Once treasured as an all round farm and riding transport mount, today's Lippitt Morgan can still "do it all" as a willing partner, able to tackle most any pleasure or competitive discipline from jumping, to driving to dressage, and still do light farm work. One of the first breeds developed in America and likely a descendant of the Canadian Horse, the Lippitt Morgan global population is estimated to be no more than 1,000. The majority of Lippitts are based in America and the largest concentration still resides in New England.



Lipizzan - AUSTRIA
EST Status: THREATENED
The "Miracle of the White Stallions" of Vienna was popularized by Disney in the 1960's who brought the WWII rescue story of the Lipizzan breed to the public eye. The breed traces its beginning to 1580 in Lipicia in what was then the Austrian empire, making the Lipizzan one of the oldest documented breeds in Europe. Foundation stock included native Karst mares bred to the Italian Neapolitaner horses, blended with horses of Spanish descent who traced to Arabians and Berber horses. When those old Spanish types became scarce by 1800, several purebred Arabians were brought in for the final touches to the Lipizzan - a breed that would become the envy of the world in dressage, particularly known for its Airs Above the Ground at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The breed is primarily grey, but black, bay, brown, and chestnuts do exist, though dun, piebald and skewbald have become extinct. A medium size horse, the Lipizzan ranges in height between 14.2 to 16 and has a powerful, Baroque build that enables it to perform and maintain high level dressage work. The Lipizzan has an estimated slowly growing global population of over 10,000 in 19 countries (mostly Europe), with approximately 1700 in North America.



Mountain Pleasure Horse/Appalachian Purebred Gaited Horse - Kentucky, USA
EST Status: CRITICAL
Originally just called "mountain horse" or "saddlers" This 200 year old gaited breed was developed in the remote eastern Kentucky's Appalachian Mountains around the time of Kentucky's early statehood. Settlers and farmers used their horses for working the small hillside farms, riding the steep mountain trails to hunt for food, to travel to neighbors and the nearest town for supplies, and still expected their horses to pull the family buggy or wagon to church on Sundays. Recent Mountain Pleasure Horse DNA studies have placed the breed as an ancestral contributor to a host of other breeds: the American Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse, and its close cousin the Rocky Mountain Horse. Naturally gaited, the breed is born with a four-beat lateral gait with no exaggerated movement, allowing horse and rider a surefooted, ground covering gait useful in on the steep trails of its homeland. This gait is often referred to as the "Cadillac of Rides". Today's Mountain Pleasure breeders pride themselves on maintaining a great family horse used for pleasure second to none on the trail. The signature color of the Mountain Pleasure is palomino, followed by newly popularized double cream expressions of perlino and cremello, with few blacks and occasional bays, buckskin, or chestnut, the latter three so few now that some breeders have taken a special interest in concentrating on those colors again before they are lost. Current global populations of the Mountain Pleasure Horse hover around 2500, with approximately 1700 of those in the state of Kentucky.



Wilbur-Cruce - Arizona, USA
EST Status: NEARLY EXTINCT
Descended from blooded Spanish/Mexican stock originally brought to the New World by way of seed stock from the Caribbean breeding stations, the Wilbur-Cruce breed is a fragile, yet healthy, well documented remnant reaching back to the Mexican ranch and missionary breeding programs of the 1700 and 1800's that found their way into the American southwest. The last well documented horses trace came to the Wilbur Arizona ranch in 1887 with 25 Mexican mares and a single stallion from Father Francisco Eusibio Kino's historic Rancho Delores in Sonora, Mexico. Research suggests the North African Barb was in various forms brought to the New World by the Spanish played a large role in the foundation of Wilbur-Cruce horse. DNA Genetic markers for the Garrano of Portugal, the Turkomen of Central Asia, and the Caspian Horse of Persia are common ancient markers still found in the Wilbur-Cruce horses. Weighing in between 700-800 pounds and ranging from 13 to nearly 15 hands, the three distinct types originally brought to Mexico by the Spanish survive today - the athletic North African Barb ranch working type, the more refined jennet riding horse, and the bold Carthusian/Villano warhorse type in a wide color pallet that includes most solid colors as well as tobiano, overo, and sabino. Numbering less than 150, the range of the Wilbur-Cruce is restricted to California and the American Southwest.

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