BREED
The Marismeño heritage Although genetically diverse, the Marismeño have never lost the ability to survive in their demanding marsh environment, writes MATHILDE GREGOIRE.
T
he Marismeño is one of the oldest breeds in Europe. Native to the marshes of the
Guadalquivir River delta in Andalusia, Spain, these semi-feral horses are the descendants of the primitive Iberian breeds that lived in the region thousands of years ago. When the Moors arrived in the 8th century,
Marismeños were crossed with Barb horses from Northern Africa. The introduction of this bloodline produced many of the qualities seen in other Iberian breeds, including agility, resilience, and stamina. For centuries, Marismeños were used in agriculture and cattle ranching. It’s believed that American mustangs are
70 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B I S S U E 6 • 2 0 2 2
descendants of escaped, domestic horses – very likely to have been Marismeños – brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. Although the mustang later became a symbol of freedom and strength, Spain’s Marismeños did not receive the same appreciation. It was not until 2003 that recognition of the breed grew, and the official studbook wasn’t established until 2012. With just over 1,200 horses now registered in the Spanish Official Catalogue of Livestock Breeds, the Marismeño is classified as an autochthonous breed in danger of extinction. Today, these free-roaming horses continue to live in Doñana National Park in southwestern Spain, a protected nature reserve with an extraordinary ecosystem consisting of marshes, sand dunes and wetlands. The Marismeño’s presence plays an important role in the ecological equilibrium of the region, which hosts one of Europe’s most biodiverse habitats.
Characteristics and genetics The Marismeño exhibits similarities to other closely related Iberian breeds, including the more famous Andalusian
