The is a rare breed of horse originating from

Miyako Island is the largest and the most populous island among the Miyako Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Miyako Island is administered as part of the City of Miyakojima, which includes not only Miyako Island, but also five other populated island ...

, in Japan. The Miyako is one of eight breeds considered native to Japan. Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture has been known as a horse breeding area for centuries, and small horses have always been found in this area. During and after

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

they were crossed with larger stallions to increase their size to around 14 hands for farming purposes. They are mostly used as riding horses and for light draft work. Around 1955, population of the breed peaked at around 10,000 head, but with the increase of motorization they began to decline. Since 1975 great efforts have been made to preserve the remaining few Miyako horses, as the breed is of great antiquity. Only seven head were living as of 1983, the population grew to 25 horses by 1993, but had dropped back to 19 by 2001. The breed is protected by the Japanese government with its status listed as "Critical-Maintained.""Country Report (For FAO State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources Process)", Editorial Committee Office of the Japanese Country Report, Animal Genetic Resources Laboratory, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Japan.
/ref> Miyako horses are mostly bay or dun in colour and resemble the

Mongolian horse The Mongol horse ( Mongolian Адуу, ''aduu'': "horse" or ''mori''; or as a herd, ''ado'') is the native horse breed of Mongolia. The breed is purported to be largely unchanged since the time of Genghis Khan. Nomads living in the traditio ...

References

* Hendricks, Bonnie. ''International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds'', page 286 Horse breeds Horse breeds originating in Japan {{Horse-breed-stub

See also

References