Mustang Mare - 1:20

Item No. 3388986 16.3x12.2cm

History and Origins of the Mustang

The Mustang was originally a horse domesticated by the Spanish. The conquest of Spain by the Arabs in the 8th century led to the arrival of Barb and Arabian horses in Spain. The Spanish Jennet resulted from the crossbreeding of horses present in Andalusia and Arab horses; it was this horse that was brought to America by the conquistadors a few centuries later. Thus, the Mustang's origins can be traced back to Barb and Arabian horses.

As history tells us, the conquistadors explored North America during the 15th and 16th centuries, and it was during this period that Spanish horses, the Spanish Jennets, arrived on the American continent. Initially, these horses were already small, hardy, and lean. Natural selection only accentuated these traits, particularly their robustness.