Breeds, origins and diversity
Breeds and populations
Horses, ponies and donkeys: discover where breeds come from, the uses that shaped them and the links between breeding and genetic diversity.
Find a breed by name, country or region of origin, or documented use in the directory.
Browse the breed directory
Discover a breed
The Lusitano
From cattle work to Portuguese equestrian art, discover this horse’s history, the characteristics breeders seek and the families that have shaped its breeding.
Read the breed profileDiscover horse, pony and donkey breeds
From the Shetland to the Lusitano, the Poitou donkey to the Miranda donkey, browse illustrated introductions to horses, ponies and donkeys. Each card gives the breed’s origin, uses and sources for its description.
The directory contains 73 profiles. Each explains a breed’s history, physical traits and uses, as well as how breeders choose breeding animals. Studbook rules and genetic research findings are explained in everyday language.
Browse the breed directoryEquids around the world
Explore equid numbers, breeds and the place of horses and donkeys in each country’s history and daily life.
France opens this journey, from prehistory to present-day uses. Nine more countries feature in the programme for future profiles.
Explore the countriesUnderstanding genetic studies
Researchers study DNA and family relationships between horses to learn about diversity within a breed. Some studies explore how coat colours are inherited; others look at which ancestors have had the most descendants.
The Lusitano profile offers concrete examples. It explains which horses were studied, how many there were and what the results tell us about that group of animals.