Type the name of the breed you're looking for below

[wpdreams_ajaxsearchlite] Don't see the breed your're looking for? Click here and let us know!
Yonaguni horse
[fbcomments]

Yonaguni horse

Country Of Origin Japan
History and Background The Yonaguni is an incredibly rare small native pony breed that comes from the southwest islands of Japan. Their origins are a mystery but it is thought that they were either introduced from southern islands about 2000 years ago or that they came from Korea and are related to the Cheju.
The Yonaguni or Yonaguni uma (与那国馬?) is a breed of horse native to the southwest islands of Japan, specifically Yonaguni Island. It is a small breed of horse phenotype but pony height.
It is also very rare, with fewer than 200 individuals known to live in Japan. It is one of eight horse breeds native to Japan.
The exact origins of the Yonaguni Horse are not clear. However, the horse has preserved its original and distinct form due to no cross-breeding occurring. In ancient times, the Yonaguni Horse was used in farming, agriculture and for the transportation of timber, but since the invention of modern machinery, this use was lost and thus the horse was no longer bred. This led to their numbers dropping to just 59 head in 1975. In this same year, a committee was formed for the preservation of the Yonaguni Horse. This encouraged people to begin breeding them again in the northern and Western regions of the island and thus they have increased in numbers to approximately 100-120 head. In the present day since they are not used for agriculture their main attraction is related tourism and the horses have become an emblem of the island.
Use Today Riding pony, Light draft
Height 11 hands (44 inches, 112 cm)
Colour Bay, Chestnut
Characteristics Head is large
Neck is short and thick
Shoulders are straight
Back is long
Legs can be splayed
Hooves are long and hard
Personality and Temperament Gentle and thoughtful
Recent Blog Posts
  • Who is your Vet? Demystifying the facts!

    People are creatures of habit and we repeatedly do things that we have done in the past.  We drive the same route to and from work, we shop at the same stores, we buy gas at the same gas stations.  We are often on auto-pilot and don’t give a lot of thought to why we […]

  • Meet Dr. Katz at Petmapz!

    My name is Dr. Katz Piller and most of my clients refer to me as “Dr. Katz”. I have had meaningful relationships with various animals since I was a toddler and after losing one horse to severe colic and another to cancer. I made a commitment to studying veterinary medicine and to helping alleviate the […]

  • Why you should have your pet spayed or neutered

    The decision to spay or neuter your pet is an important one for pet owners. But it can be the single best decision you make for their long-term welfare. A USA Today (May 7, 2013) article cites that pets who live in the states with the highest rates of spaying/neutering also live the longest. According […]