All Cattle Breeds

Malapolski

Malapolski horse were developed in the 19th century in Lesser Poland, Polish Malopolska, hence the name. They are a versatile breed, used today for light draft and under-saddle work.

They were developed from a combination of Arabian and Thoroughbred blood, with significant contributions from the Furioso and Gidrán breeds (both strains of Hungarian Anglo-Arabian. There are two distinct varieties of the Malapolski. The first is the Sadecki, which was heavily influenced by the Furioso line, and the second is the Darbowsko-Tarnowski, heavily influenced by theGidrá and Shagya Arab Gidrán line. They were also influenced by infusions of various other Arabian and Thoroughbred half-breeds. Today, they are breed at five ...

Mallorquin

Mallorquins, or Caballo Mallorquins, are a rare breed of horse indigenous to the island of Majorca in the Balearic Islands, from which it takes its name. They were first identified in 1985 by the Patronato para las Razas Autoctonas de Mallorca (''authority for the autochthonous breeds of Mallorca''). Mallorquin horses are listed in the Catalogo Oficial de Razas de Ganado de Espana in the group of autochthonous breeds in danger of extinction. Their status was listed in 2007 as critical by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In 2005 the number of Mallorquin horses recorded in the stud book was 247, but a census conducted by the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino in 2003 identified only 172. I ...

Mangalarga

Mangalarga horses are from Brazil. They were first developed by Francisco Gabriel Junqueira (Baron of Alfenas) who bred Royal Alter stallions from Portugal with colonial horses in Brazil. This mix also originated the Mangalarga Marchador breed that differs from Mangalarga horses because Mangalarga Marchador’s have different, and unique, smooth gait.

When the Junqueira family moved to Sao Paulo, the topography and local culture forced them to look for a horse with different characteristics and so they started to cross breed the Mangalarga with Hackney, Morgan, American Saddle, Hanoverian, and Trakehner horses. This made the Mangalarga a completely different horse breed form the Mangalarga Marchador. They are so diffe ...

Mangalarga Marchador

Mangalarga Marchador comes from Brazil. They possess Alter-Real blood lines that went on to be called Sublime Horses. They have a very unique gait that appears to look somewhat like a march when they walk and gallop. This gait is referred to as the marcha. In the eighteen hundreds the Sublime horses began to be purchased by those called the Hacienda Mangalarga group. It was at this point that they were no longer known as the Sublime horses and changed to the Mangalarga Marchador style of horses. They are notorious for their variances in marches including the marcha picada, the marcha batida, and the center march. One is slower, one is a diagonal pace, and the last one is thought to mimic the unique style of the Tennessee Walking H ...

Maremmano

The Maremmano horse originated in the Maremma region of Tuscany and Lazio at the time of the ancient Etruscans. From then until the nineteenth century it kept its original characteristics: squat, strong and skittish. Then, in about 1870, it began to be crossed with more lightly-built and docile horses. In the year 1902, the stallion Fauno was born at the Royal Stables at San Rossore, Versilia, in Tuscany. The result of a cross with an English thoroughbred, he was the first of the so-called “new generation”. The introduction of the English thoroughbred smoothed out some of the squat, rough characteristics of the original Maremmano, while also increasing its height and its rugged temperament.

This is a strong, good-tempere ...

Marwari

Marwari horses comes from the Northwestern areas of India. They are notably brave and can be extremely loyal to their masters. They have quite a reputation for being warriors, ones that refuse to leave a conflictive situation if asked to. In fact, these creatures have been known to only leave a battle area if they won the fight or had to carry away their injured solider. This all further explains their ways and the methods in which they operate solely on the adoration of their owners. Also widely popular in the area of Rajasthan, this breed is said to have some form of Arabian bloodlines in them as well. It comes as no surprise to their many followers as they are notably striking in appearance, as well as stature. Only royal family ...

Masuren

Masuren, or Mazury, horses are an extinct breed of horse from Poland. They were once a very notable breed and was a quality riding horse. Mainly they were developed from Trakehner horses, and crossed with Pozan horses. Masuren horses were bred at the stud at Liski in the Masuria region. In 1963 a Polish postage stamp showing a Masuren horse was issued.

Mecklenburger

Mecklenburgers are warmblood horses from the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region of north-eastern Germany. They have been closely linked to the State Stud of Redefin. Historically influenced by Arabian and Thoroughbred blood, today''s Mecklenburger is an athletic riding and driving horse similar to the neighboring Hanoverian. They are bred to the same standards as the other German Warmbloods, and are especially suitable for dressage and show jumping, though they are used for combined driving, eventing and show hunter competition as well.

The region today known as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was, until 1934, composed of the duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz. However, the region was united by virtue of bei ...

Megezh

Very little is known about Megezh horses, other than that they can be grullo, roan, grey, dun, sorrel, or bay, and that they are a southern type of horse that has strains of Yakut, Olekminsk, and Suntar horse breeds. Megezh is the largest type of the Yakut breed. They come from southwestern Yakutia in the region of Leninsk.

In the later part of the l9th century a tough horse with great endurance was needed for gold mining purposes. Thus Yakut and Kuznet breeds were crossed and the Megezh Horse emerged. The cross produced horse was strong and able to perform mining work. They are 14-15.1 hh. Other uses included milk and meat production.

Menorquin

Menorquin Horses, or Cavall Menorqui, are indigenous to the island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands, from which they get their name. They are closely associated with the doma menorquina style of riding.

Menorca was under Moorish domination from 903–1287. According some sources, research has shown links between the Menorquín and Arab breeds, while others have shown it to be of Berber origin, and yet others believe that it was brought to Menorca from central Europe by King James I of Aragon. According to the Government of the Balearic Islands, it belongs to the eastern group of indigenous Iberian horses which also included the now extinct Catalan horse.

Menorquin horses were officially recognized ...

Messara

Messara (also known as Cretan) horses are a light riding and draft horse found on the island of Crete off the coast of Greece.

The native mountain-type Messara pony exists on the island of Crete since year 1000 or longer. The name comes from the Mesara Plain where they are mostly found. The modern Cretan horse was developed by crossing the native mares on Arabian stallions imported during the Turkish occupation in the 17th century. They are now a rare breed with around 100 representatives. Since 1994 there exists a studbook and conservation program has been started.

Their main coat colors are bay, brown (a variation of bay), black, and gray. They usually stand between 12.2 and 14 hands high. Most Mes ...

Miniature

Miniature horses are, as expected, small…really small; usually less than 34–38 inches (86–97 cm) as measured at the last hairs of the mane, which are found at the withers. While miniature horses are the size of a very small pony, many retain horse characteristics and are considered "horses" by their respective registries. They have various colors and coat patterns.

Miniature horses are friendly and interact well with people. For this reason they are often kept as family pets, though they still retain natural horse behavior, including a natural fight or flight instinct, and must be treated like an equine, even if they primarily serve as a companion animal. They are also trained as service animals, akin to assistance d ...

Minusin

Minusin horses come from the Minusin Valley in the south part of the Krasnodar region (Former Soviet Union) and was developed by the people native to the area who have been breeding horses for hundreds of years. As the needs for agriculture began to grow the breed was infused with the blood of Don, Thoroughbred, and trotter stallions to provide it with needed size.

They have a large head, Roman nose, thick neck, large trunk, and wide chest. Their legs are spindly but strong. They come in a variety of coat colors including bay, dun, grulla, palomino and buckskin.

Misaki

Misaki Horses (Misaki uma in Japanese) are as tall of a pony, yet they have many horse characteristics and proportions. The first reference to Misaki Horses is in 1697, when the Akizuki family of the Takanabe Clan rounded up feral horses and developed a pool of breeding stock. However, following the end of World War II, Misaki horses were designated as a National Natural Treasure and nowadays they have returned to feral life, mainly in a designated National Monument on Cape Toi at the south end of the Miyazaki Prefecture, attracting many tourists to the region.

Source: Japanese Horse Breeds (

Missouri Fox-Trotter

Missouri Fox-Trotter comes from Missouri, US (which you could have guessed by the name). They have received their unique name from the dance they did when they were developed in the Missouri Ozarks. They have a fluid four beat gait. This makes for a very graceful ride. They are well known for being easy to manipulate through mountainous terrains. Many years ago, it was thought that the pioneers utilized these horses to get from the Mississippi River to Tennessee, then also to Virginia. They were first called an Ozark Hill Horse and were used frequently for many farmers. They were finally registered in Ava, Missouri sometime during the middle of the nineteenth century.

They are used for shows and competitions, as ...

Miyako

Miyako Horses (Miyako Uma in Japanese) originated from Miyako Island in Okinawa, a prefecture known as a horse breeding area for centuries. In 1055, population of the breed peaked at around 10,000. Unfortunately, the increase of motorization caused this number to decline, and by 1983, there were only seven head alive. The population grew to 25 horses by 1993, but had dropped back to 19 by 2001, despite the great efforts to preserve this breed of great antiquity.

Miyako Horses resemble Mongolian horse and nowadays they are mainly used as riding ponies, and sometimes for light draft work.

Source: Japanese Horse Breeds ( ...

Monchino

Monchino, or Monchinu, horses are indigenous to the Valle de Guriezo in the Cantabria region of northern Spain, and the neighbouring Biscay province. They are listed in the Official Catalogue of Livestock Breeds of Spain (Catalogo Oficial de Razas de Ganado de Espana) in the group of autochthonous breeds in danger of extinction. The word monchinu means highlander, from the mountains, in Cantabrian.

Mongolian

Mongolian horses (Mongolian aduu: "horse" or mori; or as a herd, ado, or in Northern Khalka, tabun) are the native horse breed of Mongolia. They are considered to be have been largely unchanged since the time of Genghis Khan. Nomads living in the traditional Mongol fashion still hold more than 3 million horses, which outnumber the country''s human population. Despite their small size, they are horses, not ponies. In Mongolia, the horses live outdoors all year, dealing with temperatures from 30 °C (86 °F) in summer down to -40 °C (-40 °F) in winter, and they graze and search for food on their own. The mare''s milk is processed into the national beverage airag. Some animals are slaughtered for meat. Other than that, they serve as rid ...

Montana Travler

Montana Travler horses were developed in the US state of Montana and are a relatively new saddle horse breed. In the 1930s, Montanan Tom Eaton began combining the bloodlines of Tennessee Walking, Morgan, American Saddlebred, Thoroughbred, and Hamiltonian horses in a search for "the perfect horse." By the early 1970s, his breeding resulted in an eye-catching, ground-covering chestnut stallion.

The stallion, named Montana Travler, walked at a brisk eight miles per hour, with a giant eight-inch-plus overstep. He trained easily, and, when bred, sired offspring of exceptional quality. This success motivated Eaton to found the Montana Travler Horse Association in 1979, writing, "Justin Morgan established a breed from one ...

Monterufoli Pony

Monterufoli Ponies originated in the province of Pisa (Tuscany), particularly in the area of Monterufoli. According to some writers it derived from a now extinct type known as the “Selvina Breed” which lived in the wild. The area from where the Montrufoli comes is now largely covered by the “Monterufoli-Caselli” Nature Reserve, a hilly region lying at between100 and 560 metres above sea level.

The story of the Monterufoli began in 1913 when the estate was purchased by the Counts of Gherardesca. The real process of selection and improvement began with the work of this family, who selected the best specimens from the original population to breed with Maremma, Tolfeta and Oriental stallions. The breed then established itsel ...

Morab

Morab horses were originally developed in the late 1880’s through the cross-breeding of Arabian and Morgan horses. They were developed with the intent of creating a fine carriage horse that was still substantial enough for moderate farm labor. The modern Morab continues this tradition of paired power and elegance, being both attractive and competitive show animals, and strong but mild-mannered work and family horses.

The first Morab registry was created in 1973. Prior to this, Morabs were primarily undocumented horses bred for type. Many early Morabs were registered with the American Morgan Horse Association, as the Morgan studbook was still open that time, and these horses have since been fully assimilated into the ...

Morgan

Morgan horses were one of the first horse breeds developed in the United States. All Morgans can trace their lineage back to a horse Justin Morgan, who was named after his owner.

Morgan horses are known for their strength, elegance, and history. The Morgan horse lent its muscle to clearing and tilling New England farms during the earliest years of American history. Today it is a popular driving and riding horse, surefooted over rough trail as it is refined and dignified in the show ring.

Morgans served many roles in 19th-century American history, being used as coach horses and for harness racing, as general riding animals, and as cavalry horses during the Civil War on both sides. Morgans have influenced othe ...

Mountain Pleasure

Mountain Pleasure horses have been relatively unchanged for a century or more. They reflect the primitive Appalachian gaited horse type and may be ancestral to modern breeds developed in the region during the late 1800''s and early 1900''s, including American Saddlebred and Tennessee Walking Horses.

As a landrace, the Mountain Pleasure is variable in type, with some horses having distinctively Spanish features and others resembling the larger, modern breeds. Consistent among all is a smooth four-beat gait that replaces the trot. They stand 14.2-15.2 hands at the withers and weigh 850-950 pounds. Most of the solid colors known in horses occur in the breed, including grays and roans.

The limestone pla ...

Moyle

Moyle horses are famous for their frontal bosses, referred to as horns, thought to be inherited from Asian ancestors. Moyle horses were developed in Idaho by Rex Moyle from Mustangs brought from Utah. According to some studies, it is said that the Moyle may have descended from the Spanish Carthusian horses.

Moyles are extraordinarily fast and agile--more than most breeds. They perform well in the equestrian arena as well. They excel on race tracks, endurance competitions, and do well over jumps. They are extremely strong. Their conformation is stronger than most breeds. Moyle horses have an exceptionally large rib cage and their internal organs are large. Moyles have strong shoulders that are widely spaced and muscu ...

Murghese

This breed originates from, and is spread throughout Puglia: in particular, the Murge region. It can trace its origins to the time of Spanish domination, when Arab, Berber and Andalusian stallions were brought in. But the real development of the Murgese horse was thanks to the Counts of Conversano. They were a family of farsighted nobles who were very adept in choosing horses for importation and careful in selecting those which fitted the needs of the time and the character of the area. The breed was first officially registered in 1926 at the “Deposito Stalloni” (Stallion Registry), which later became the “Istituto di Incremento Ippico di Foggia” (Foggia Institute of Horse Breeding).

The Murgese is a country breed, often ...

Mustang

Mustang horses are descendants of Spanish, or Iberian, horses that were brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. The name was derived from the Spanish word mustengo, which means "ownerless beast" or "stray horse." These horses bred with other breeds of horses, including quarter horses and draft horses, to create the breed we know today.

Mustang herds vary greatly on how much they can be traced to the original Iberian horses. Some contain a greater genetic mixture of ranch stock, while others are relatively unchanged from the original Iberian stock.

In 1971, the United States Congress recognized that "wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit ...