The Kiso Horse originated in the mountainous region of Kiso-Sanmyaku in Japan. The horses, most likely introduced from Korea in the third century, have similar traits to the Mongolian and the Tarpan, a now-extinct breed that once dominated the plains of Eurasia.

The head is large and resembles a Mongolian Horse, a feature most likely introduced during the invasions of Kublai Khan in 1274 and 1281. And though it is small, the Kiso is not a pony. The neck and body are short, and this is what gives the Kiso breed its horse conformations. The withers are low and flat and some have a primitive dorsal stripe, this is a strip of darker hair running from the mane to the top of the tail.

Originally, the Kiso was widely used in farming, hauling and pack work, but it truly flourished as a war horse for the Japanese. Unfortunately, it was military ambition that almost caused the destruction of the breed.

In an attempt to make the horse larger, a government initiative called for the introduction of bigger, western stallions and the castration of all Kiso Horse males. This decree almost wiped out the rare breed. Its existence today is owed to a single stallion, Shinmei, who was kept at a Shinto shrine and therefore spared from castration. From this single horse, the breed has been back-bred in order to regain its purity and original form.

Though the horse is relatively rare, there are ranches in Japan that specialize in the Kiso horse as a registered breed. It is even still used today on farms, particularly in mountain regions where the maneuverability and cost-benefits of a horse far outweigh those of a tractor.

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Kiso - Horses for Sale