Amiatina donkies, or Asino dell'Amiata in atalian, are from donkeys
from Tuscany in central Italy. They are particularly associated with Monte
Amiata in the provinces of Siena and Grosseto, but they are distributed
throughout Tuscany. There are also popular in Liguria and in Campania. They are one of the eight autochthonous donkey breeds of limited distribution recognized by the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali, the Italian ministry of agriculture and forestry.
They are grey-coated donkeys with special black and white
stripes in the limbs and a scapular cross. Thanks to their slender and nimble
shape, they could go up to steep and rough mountains. Neurotic and good-natured as well, these donkeys had a large diffusion mainly as recurrent winners in the traditional 'palio'. Thanks to the Horse Increase Institute at Pisa a group of
these donkeys have been preserved with known ascendants and various blood
lines.
Content and Photo source: Agraria.org.