The Hokkaido Horse descends from the first horses brought to Japan from Korea in the third century AD. The horses were introduced to Hokkaido Island by fishermen sometime in the seventeenth century. As one of Japan's few native breeds, the Hokkaido has the highest population numbers of any of the remaining ancient horses, an estimated two thousand.

Its legs are slender and light, but the Hokkaido is remarkably strong for its frame. Evolving over centuries of harsh winters and difficult terrain, the Hokkaido is now a robust and stout beast known for having a healthy and hardy constitution. The shape of the head is somewhat plain and betrays evidence of Mongolian influence on the breed. Aesthetically, the Hokkaido horse can come in a variety of colors, but is most commonly found in roan. It will also show a touch of silky feathering on the lower legs.

The Hokkaido Horse is still used today on some farms, particularly in mountain regions. This is because a horse is easy to maneuver on difficult terrain, especially areas without proper road systems. Using a horse will also reduce damage to the soil, lower fuel costs, and provide a source of fertilizer for small-scale agriculture.

Sometimes called the Dosanko Horse, the Hokkaido Horse is a revered breed in its native Japan. And though descended from Korean stock in the third century AD, it is likely that invasions by Kublai Khan in 1274 and 1281 would have injected Mongolian ponies into the bloodline, therefore supplementing and altering the horse of today. Until the 1930s, the horse was widely used in farming and military pack work, but mechanization caused a rapid population decline.

Back to the Horse Breeds Page         Hokkaido Breeders - Horses for Sale
Hokkaido - Horses for Sale