Horse
VU

Horse

Equus caballus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The domestic horse faces significant threats primarily through genetic erosion of traditional breeds, with over 100 local breeds having disappeared in the past century due to mechanization and crossbreeding with commercial lines. Habitat loss affects feral populations, while climate change impacts grazing lands essential for extensive breeding systems. Disease outbreaks and reduced genetic diversity in purebred populations further compromise long-term viability of many horse breeds worldwide.

Threat summary

Habitat

Horses occupy diverse habitats including natural grasslands, steppes, and semi-arid rangelands, as well as managed pastures and agricultural landscapes. Feral populations inhabit prairies, scrublands, and mountainous regions across multiple continents.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Equidae

DonkeyEN

Donkey

Equus asinus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Horse classified as Vulnerable?
Horse is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The domestic horse faces significant threats primarily through genetic erosion of traditional breeds, with over 100 local breeds having disappeared in the past century due to mechanization and crossbreeding with commercial lines. Habitat loss affects feral populations, while climate change impacts grazing lands essential for extensive breeding systems. Disease outbreaks and reduced genetic diversity in purebred populations further compromise long-term viability of many horse breeds worldwide.
Where does Horse live?
Horse occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Horse?
The main threats to Horse are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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