- Miyako -

The Miyako horse originated in Japan, on Miyako Island (hence its name). It is used for riding and light draft work. The island has been known as a horse breeding area for centuries, and small horses have always been found there. During WWII, they were crossed with larger stallions to increase their size to around 14 hands for farming purposes.

Around 1955, the population of the Miyako peaked at around ten thousand horses. Due to the increase of motorization, they have begun to decline. Efforts have been made since 1975 to preserve the few remaining Miyako horses, since the breed is quite ancient. As of December 1988, however, there were only eleven horses left. They are predominantly bay or dun, and they look like a Mongolian horse.

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