Found in the steppes of Central Asia, Przewalski’s horses are the last truly wild horses in the world! They were at one time extinct in the wild. But after captive breeding efforts, they were reintroduced into their native habitat in the 1980s.
Przewalski’s horses (pronounced sheh-VAL-skee or per-zhuh-VAL-skee) have honey-colored coats, dark spiky manes, and short legs. They are heavily-built with large heads and thick necks. They have white muzzles.
Przewalski’s horses got their name from a Russian explorer named Nikolai Przewalski, who studied their bones in the 1800s. But these horses are also commonly called takhi–which means “spirit” in Mongolia–as well as Mongolian wild horses.
Przewalski’s Horse vs. Domestic Horse
Although Przewalski’s horses are relatives of domestic horses, they are their own distinct species. In fact, Przewalski’s horses have 66 chromosomes, and domestic horses have 64!
Przewalski’s horses also differ from the ‘wild’ horses of Australia and North America. Those are actually feral populations of domestic horses. In other words, they started out as domesticated animals, and then they began living in the wild.
Where Przewalski’s Horse Live
Przewalski’s horses live in the steppes of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan. A steppe is a large grassland that has very hot summers and very cold winters.
At one time, Przewalski’s horses ranged all throughout Europe and Asia. Their populations dwindled to a small population in Mongolia in the 1960s, until they were eventually classified as extinct in the wild.
To try to save the species, scientists bred 12 remaining Przewalski’s horses in captivity. Captive breeding programs grew the population. Then, starting in the 1980s, small groups were reintroduced into the wild in Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. Now, about 1200 Przewalski’s horses live in the wild, and their populations are growing.
Social Life
Very social animals, Przewalski’s horses live in groups of about 4-10. One type of group is called a harem, which includes a dominant stallion (male horse), several mares (female horses), and their offspring.
Younger stallions may live together in a bachelor herd until they are old enough to attract mares for their own harems.
Living in groups helps keep Przewalski’s horses safe. They can team up and chase away predators, such as wolves, who prey upon foals (baby horses).
The members of the group strengthen their bonds by grooming each other.
What Przewalski’s Horses Eat
Przewalski’s horses mostly eat grass, but they also eat leaves from shrubby trees. They must drink a lot of water as well.
Helpful to the Ecosystem
Pzewalski’s horses are beneficial to the steppe ecosystem. By grazing, they keep the grass short. This allows other animals to access the ground, and it also allows a greater variety of plant life to grow. Furthermore, their dung fertilizes the soil.
Reproduction
After an 11-month gestation period, a mare will give birth to a foal in late spring or early summer.
Baby Przewalski’s horses can start trotting the day they’re born! By a few weeks, they can also graze on grass, though they will continue to nurse for 8-13 months.
When they reach 1-4 years old, Przewalski’s horses leave the herd. Females will join other harems, and males will form bachelor groups. Przewalski’s horses live about 25 years.
Though they are different species, Przewalski’s horses and domestic horses can breed. The resulting hybrid looks like a Przewalski’s horse, but it has 65 chromosomes instead of 66.
Conservation Status
Przewalski’s horses are considered endangered by the IUCN Red List. Their populations have been bolstered by conservation efforts, but they are still threatened by their lack of genetic diversity. Every Przewalski’s horse alive today is a descendant of the small group of 12 horses captured and bred in the 1960s.
In an effort to create more genetic diversity, scientists cloned a foal in 2020 and again in 2023 using cryopreserved (frozen) cells of a stallion from 1980. This will help add more diversity to the populations.
What You Can Do to Help
If you would like to help Przewalski’s horses, you can support the Aspinall Foundation, which works on captive breeding and reintroduction campaigns.
More Przewalski Horse Resources
- Smithsonion National Zoo: Przewalski’s Horse
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park: Przewalski’s Horse
- National Geographic: Przewalski’s Horse
- Denver Zoo: Przewalski’s Horse
- Scientific American: “Przewalski’s Horses are Finally Returning to their Natural Habitat”
Quick Fact Sheet
Common Name(s): Przewalski's Horse, Takhi, Mongolian Wild Horse
Scientific Name: Equus ferus przewalskii
Animal Type: mammal
Size: 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft.) tall at shoulder
Weight: 225-360 kg (500-800 lb.)
Lifespan: 25 years
Conservation Status: Endangered
About the Author
Abi Cushman is a contributing editor of Animal Fact Guide and My House Rabbit. When she's not writing about weird animal facts, Abi writes and illustrates funny books for kids. Her picture books, Soaked! and Animals Go Vroom!, are available now from Viking Children's Books.
To learn more and to download free activity sheets, visit www.abicushman.com. Follow her on Instagram at @Abi.Cushman.
