The Tarpan was the wild horse of Eurasia and the last one died in captivity in 1918 or 1919 in the Ukraine. However, the Modern Tarpan has been bred back from its descendants in an attempt to regain the breed. It was developed by crossing Hucul and Konik pony stock, both descendants of the original Tarpan. It's believed to be a fairly accurate replica of the original wild horse. The Modern Tarpan is a lightly built, but strong, small horse. They are normally a dun color, but sometimes possess a gray smoky body. The Modern Tarpan often displays primitive markings such as zebra stripes on the legs or a dorsal stripe – a darker strip of hair running from the base of the mane to the tip of the tail.

The fertility rate is high and the breed is known for its hardy constitution and natural immune system. Essentially, the breed has “vigor.” Tarpans are naturally wild, but with the right trainer can be gentle and calm. They are intelligent, affectionate, friendly and curious, but they can also be stubborn and independent. They don’t take well to domestication and you need to possess a great deal of patience to properly train a Modern Tarpan Horse.

The Tarpan, different from the Asian Wild Horse, was a very influential primitive breed on the steppes of Eurasia, extending from the Carpathian Ponies to the Konik and Hucul mounts of Poland and even down to the Iranian plateau, where it would have influenced the Arabian breed. Though extinct, the Tarpan, or Equus caballus gmelinin Antonius, lives on in the Modern Tarpan.

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