There are many African horse breeds out there, from feral horses to some of the best riding horses in the world. But not every African horse is the same, so it’s important to take the time to learn a little about some of the most popular ones if you’re either interested in purchasing one or just want to learn a bit more about them.
With that in mind, we’ve highlighted 15 African horse breeds for you here and included some basic facts about each one.
The 15 African Horse Breeds
1. Abyssinian
| Origin: | Ethiopia |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 5 hands |
The Abyssinian horse is also commonly called the Arabian horse, and it’s an extremely recognizable breed from Africa. The history of this breed stretches back 4,500 years, and today, they can weigh between 800 and 1,000 pounds.
They’re tall and majestic horses, and because of this, they’re also among the most expensive African horse breeds on our list.
2. Barb
| Origin: | North Africa |
| Lifespan: | 20 to 25 years |
| Height: | 5 to 15 hands |
The Barb horse is a riding horse with tons of stamina, and while many people confuse them with the Arabian horse, they’re two distinct breeds. They’re beautiful horses with Spanish roots, too, and today, you can find them worldwide.
They’re another well-sought-after breed, but in many circles, they’re still a step behind the Arabian horse, even if they are similar in so many ways!
3. Bahr-El-Ghazal
| Origin: | Chad |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 5 to 15 hands |
The Bahr-El-Ghazal horse is another transportation and riding horse with African origins, with the original Bahr-El-Ghazal coming from the region of modern-day Chad. It’s a lightweight horse, although it is a bit taller.
Today, the Bahr-El-Ghazal is an extremely rare horse, with only about 10,000 in the world. Compared to a few other horses on our list, the Bahr-El-Ghazal’s quality is a bit lower.
4. Nooitgedachter
| Origin: | South Africa |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 5 to 16 hands |
While some of the African horse breeds on our list have ancient origins, that’s not the case with the Nooitgedachter. These horses don’t even date back 100 years, and they’re riding horses with great stamina.
Not only are they great riding horses, but they’re also larger and majestic. The Nooitgedachter is an extremely rare breed, with only about 400 purebreds in the world.
5. Boerperd
| Origin: | South Africa |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 5 to 14.5 hands |
The Boerperd is another common horse breed that comes from South Africa. The Boerperd is a recreation of a now-extinct Cape Horse. Many of these horses died during wars from 1880 to 1902, but today, you can find the Boerperd worldwide.
6. Basotho Pony
| Origin: | South Africa |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 5 to 14 hands |
While there’s “pony” in the name of this breed, it’s still part of the “horse” line just on the smaller side of things. It has an extremely long stride, especially considering its smaller size, and they have numerous other characteristics that make it clear it’s a horse.
They’re sure-footed horses that can traverse all sorts of uneven terrain, which is an excellent advantage of the Basotho Pony compared to other larger horse breeds.
7. Vlaamperd
| Origin: | South Africa |
| Lifespan: | 20 to 25 years |
| Height: | 20 to 25 years |
The Vlaamperd is yet another South African horse breed that made it onto this list. They’re a cross from European stallions with local mares, and in 1983, the first official stud book came into existence. It’s another horse that comes from the now-extinct Cape Horse, and it’s a riding horse through and through.
8. Dongola
| Origin: | Sudan |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 5 to 15.5 hands |
The Dongola is yet another riding horse from Africa, and it’s a Barb-type horse. While many of the horses on our list originate from South Africa or Senegal, the Dongola comes from Sudan. They’re beautiful horses with distinct markings, and the Dongola has several breeds that descend from it too!
9. Fleuve
| Origin: | Senegal |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 14 to 15 hands |
While you can figure out the origins of many of the horses on our list, the Fleuve is not one of them. We know they come from the Senegal region, but when they first appeared is unknown. It’s worth noting that no one knows the exact number of Fleuve horses currently in Senegal or the world.
10. Fouta
| Origin: | Senegal |
| Lifespan: | 30 to 35 years |
| Height: | 13 to 15 hands |
The Fouta is another African horse breed that comes from Senegal. They’re a slightly smaller horse breed, and they’re a cross between the Fleuve and the M’Bayar horse. The Fouta is a highly sought-after horse that many people want because of their racing pedigree.
11. Poney du Logone
| Origin: | Chad and Cameroon |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 12 to 13 hands |
Chad and Cameroon aren’t countries that come with a huge horse pedigree, but the Poney du Logone is a clear exception. Today, you can find the Poney du Logone through Chad, and it doesn’t seem like they’re going anywhere anytime soon, but that’s not the case in Cameroon, where they’re at risk of extinction.
12. M’bayar
| Origin: | Senegal |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 13 to 14 hands |
The M’bayar is a smaller African horse that’s from Senegal, and the origin of the breed is still a little unknown. They might come from Barb horses, or they could be an autochthonous breed from the area. In Senegal, there are four main horse breeds, and the M’bayar is the most numerous of the breeds.
13. Namib Desert Horse
| Origin: | Namibia |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 14 to 16 hands |
If you want a domestic horse, the Namib Desert Horse isn’t the way to go. They’re feral horses you can find in Namibia and, as the name suggests, in the desert. There are only about 90 to 150 of these horses still in existence, and they all live in one feral herd.
14. Hamdani
| Origin: | Arabian Peninsula |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 14 to 15 hands |
Today, the Hamdani horse is extinct, but that doesn’t make them any less African in nature or any less interesting. They were extremely athletic and masculine horses, but to many people, they had a very plain appearance. They were powerful horses, and they were completely feral.
15. Tawleed
| Origin: | Sudan |
| Lifespan: | 25 to 30 years |
| Height: | 15 to 16 hands |
The Tawleed is a riding horse through and through, and it has numerous benefits. It’s a strong horse with tons of endurance, and compared to many other types of horses, they’re relatively easy to keep. This, paired with their riding advantages, makes it easy to see why they’re so popular!
Conclusion
If you are looking to get an African horse, the Barb and the Fouta are likely the easiest to find and most affordable. The Vlaamperd is also a smart choice for anyone doing carriage rides, though they might be harder to find and a bit more expensive. The other breeds on this list exist in much smaller numbers, and some are hard to find outside their specific region.
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Featured Image Credit: U. Eisenlohr, Shutterstock
