Although poaching and habitat loss led to the extinction of Przewalski’s Horses in the wild in the 1960s, the last truly wild horse species has made a comeback thanks to diligent conservation work.

The Lascaux cave paintings in France reveal the most abundant and astonishing Paleolithic art ever discovered. Prehistoric artists painted all kinds of animals on the cave walls 20,000 years ago, including bison, antelope and even a rhinoceros.

But the animal that appears most in this breathtaking wall of creatures is the horse. Herd of horses gallop across the cave walls, with the most iconic equines showing a dun coat, a dark mane that stands up, and a light tan belly.

In short, many of the horses of the Lascaux cave paintings look just like Przewalski’s Horse, the only remaining wild horse on the planet. This equine vestige of the Ice Age nearly died out in the 20th century, only to make an amazing comeback over the last few decades.

Spirit Horse

Although we refer to the horses living free on the American range as “wild,” in reality, they are feral. This means they are the species Equus ferus caballus—domestic horses that were tamed by humans 5,000 years ago and bred in captivity for millennia.

Przewalski’s Horse, on the other hand, is a truly wild horse. Believed by many scientists to be the last wild species of horse to have survived from prehistoric times, Equus ferus przewalskii is assumed to be a distant cousin to today’s domestic horses.

Research into their mitochondrial DNA suggests Przewalski’s Horse and the domestic horse diverged from a common ancestor 500,000 years ago.

Przewalski’s Horse evolved on the steppes of Asia, where wide open plains and abundant grasses provided the perfect environment for horses. The people of Mongolia were witness to Prezwalski’s Horse as long as humans lived on the Asian steppes, with references to these horses appearing from the time of Ghengis Khan. The Mongolian people refer to Przewalski’s Horse as Takhi, which means “spirit,” and consider it to be the fastest and most untamable horse of all.

In the late 1800s, a Polish explorer and naturalist named Nikołaj Przewalski observed these horses in the wilds of northwestern China, leading to the species’ official scientific classification of Equus ferus przewalskii. By the early 1900s, a number of Przewalski’s Horses had been captured and were being kept in zoos throughout Europe.

Although thousands of Przewalski’s Horses are believed to have lived in Mongolia and parts of Asia for centuries alongside human habitations, by the 1960s, they had gone completely extinct in the wild, despite government efforts to protect them. Poachers and loss of habitat meant the only Przewalski’s Horses left on earth were the 14 individuals living in zoos.

Wild Again

Getting Przewalski’s Horse back to the steppes of Asia has been the goal of conservationists for decades. Working together with zoos around the world, this dream was accomplished in 1992 when the first herd of Przewalski’s Horses were released in Hustai National Park in Mongolia.

Since then, other groups of horses have also been released in the Great Gobi “B” Strictly Protected Area and Khomyn tal, both in Mongolia, where they are protected by order of the Mongolian government.

“The ultimate goal for Przewalski’s Horses is [to have] enough with good genetic diversity reintroduced to the wild so we no longer have to keep them in zoos,” says Simon Jeffery, animal director at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve in Hythe, United Kingdom, a zoological park that was instrumental in the return of the Przewalski’s Horse to the wild. The preserve still maintains a breeding herd.

Planned Breeding of Przewalski’s Horses

It’s estimated that around 1,500 Przewalski’s Horses are now living in the wild, with foals being born each spring. But the quest to save this very special horse continues. Lack of genetic diversity, harsh weather, predators and cross-breeding with domestic horses all contribute to the challenge Przewalski’s Horses face in the wild; this is why zoos and preserves around the world maintain breeding bands of these special horses.

In the U.S., the Denver Zoo is among the organizations contributing to the conservation of the last wild horse. They are currently home to four Przewalski’s Horses.

“In our 17 years working with Przewalski’s Horses, Denver Zoo has served as both a holding and breeding institution,” says Reese Pfalzer, assistant Curator of Hoofstock at the Denver Zoo. “Przewalski’s Horses are a managed program within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and one of Denver Zoo’s hoofstock animal care specialists is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan studbook holder for Przewalski’s Horses. This means that she helps the Species Survival Plan program thrive by using genetic analysis to best pair breeding groups of Przewalski’s Horses throughout North America.”

In the Association of Zoos and Aquariums managed species program, there are 119 Przewalski’s Horses in 26 different facilities throughout North America.

Training Przewalski’s Horses

Because they are wild animals, Przewalski’s Horses can be a challenge to manage in captivity. In addition to being a part of the international effort to conserve the species, the Denver Zoo is a leader in the training of Przewalski’s Horses.

“We have a strong training program for our horses that reside at the zoo, including voluntary blood draws and hoof trims,” says Pfalzer. “For many years, Przewalski’s Horses were thought of as untrainable. Our animal care specialists have done an excellent job proving that untrue by building strong relationships with the animals that enable successfully trained voluntary behaviors so that we may provide the best care for them.”

Just Like Horses Although Przewalski’s Horse has been wild for thousands of years, the behaviors the species shows will sound very familiar to owners of domestic horses. “Przewalski’s Horses have a hierarchy in the pecking order, with dominant and subordinate animals,” says Dolores Reed, supervisory biologist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, who manages the zoo’s Przewalski’s Horse population. “They communicate with whinnies and neighs in various pitches like domestic horses and use body language to communicate. They put their ears back and head down to threaten, and they are quite food motivated. Interestingly, like domestic horses, they have been known to chew wood.” Reed also notes they tend to have the same health issues as domestic horses, particularly when it comes to over-conditioning—something owners of easy keepers know all too well. “They are prone to becoming over-conditioned,” says Reed. “They are very efficient and require very little supplementation if they have green pasture access.” Just like domestic horses, Przewalski’s Horses prefer the company of their herd mates, and can become upset when separated. “Przewalski’s Horses tend to be intensely herd-oriented and prefer wide open spaces,” says Reed. And when confined, they can be prone to pacing, rearing and climbing. “They also do not usually give warning kicks,” she says. “When they kick, it is usually with full force.” According to Reed, after receiving one of these kicks, the hardy Przewalski’s Horse who received the blow barely acknowledges the kick. “In contrast, a domestic horse would likely become lame or have a welt at the point of contact,” she says.

Key Takeaway

According to Pfalzer, much work still needs to be done to ensure a sustainable population of wild Przewalski’s Horses in their native range.

“Thus far, collaboration among institutions shows for a promising future for Przewalski’s Horses, both in the wild and in human care,” she says.

This article appeared in the May 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!