Global horse population with respect to breeds and risk status

Sammanfattning: This study was performed based on FAOSTAT and DAD-IS database systems of Food and Agriculture of United Nations in order to describe the number of horses, horses per 1000 persons, number of horse breeds and the risk status of horse breeds in the world. In 2008, there are 58.7 million horses in the world, South America dominating (15 millions) followed by Asia (13.8 millions), North America (9.8 millions), Latin America and Caribbean (8.7 millions), Europe (6.3 millions), Africa (4.5 millions) and Oceania (0.41 million). Interestingly from the results of 2000 to 2008 data the population of horses is continuously decreasing in Europe, Asia and South America whilst gradually increasing in North America, Latin America and Caribbean, Africa and Oceania. The figure of horses per 1000 persons in the world was 8.7 for 2008. In the same year, Latin America and Caribbean, South America, North America, Oceania, Europe, Africa and Asia had 45.7, 38.9, 28.7, 11.8, 8.7, 4.6 and 3.4 horses per 1000 persons respectively. A total of 784 horse breeds have been reported in the world of which 655 are local, 62 are regional transboundary and 67 are international transboundary breeds. Europe makes up more than half of all horse breeds in the world while Latin America and Caribbean reported the least number of horse breeds. The majority of the reported horse breeds are unknown breeds. The Arab and Thoroughbred horses are the most diversed horse breeds in the world. A total of 22.6 % of the world’s horse breeds are “at risk” while 11.5 % are extinct from the world. It was shown that 31.8 % of the horse breeds were not at risk while 34.1 % had an unknown status. This study reflects that Europe provides relatively good information of the horses to FAO as compared to other continents. It would be very informative to do further studies to determine the overall impression of the horses in the world.