List of Iberian horse breeds


This is a list of the breeds of horse native to the Iberian Peninsula, and considered in Portugal and Spain to have originated wholly or partly in those countries. Inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively of Iberian origin.
The Altér Real, Garrano, Lusitano, Ponei da Terceira and Sorraia are of Portuguese origin; the Garrano is equivalent to the Pura Raza Gallega of Spain.
A Spanish Royal Decree of 2008 listed fourteen native breeds |Burguete], Caballo [de Monte del País Vasco], Pura Raza Gallega, Pura Raza Española, of which all but the Andalusian were at risk of extinction; the Spanish Trotter and Caballo de Deporte Español were listed separately. The Pirinenc Català was added in 2012, and the Caballo del las Retuertas in 2016. The Serrano received regional recognition from the Community of Madrid in 2011.
The horses of the peninsula are commonly classified in various groups or clades, confirmed by microsatellite studies. These may include: the northern or Atlantic Celtic ponies or small horses, which show similarities to British breeds such as the Exmoor Pony; the southern or Mediterranean breeds of Celtic origin, including the Mallorquín and Menorquín; the hot-blooded breeds, including the imported Arab and Thoroughbred, as well as the Spanish Trotter; and the Iberian horses, including the Pura Raza Española, the Lusitano, the Alter Réal and the Marismeño, which are closely related to the horses of North Africa. The Retuertas does not fall within any of these groups.
Local nameEnglish name if usedImageNotes
Asturcón2001 population: 873;semi-feral
Altér RealPortugal
Burguete2001 population: ; heavy work and meat horse
Spanish Sport Horse2001 population:
Caballo de las RetuertasRetuertaspopulation 60-140; feral, first described in 2005
Basque Mountain Horse2001 population: ; semi-feral meat horse
Galician Pony2001 population: 650;semi-feral; unregistered horses, known as faco or del país; Spanish equivalent of the Garrano
extinct since the first third of the twentieth century
Garranopopulation >950; semi-feral; Portuguese equivalent of the Caballo de Pura Raza Gallega
Hispano-Árabe2001 population:
Hispano-Bretón2001 population: ; work and meat
Jaca Navarra2001 population: 390; semi-feral
Losino2001 population: 169; semi-feral
LusitanoPortugal; population
Mallorquín2001 population: 172
Marismeñopopulation, semi-feral
Menorquín2001 population:
Mérenspopulation >
Monchino2001 population:
population ; recognised in 2012
Ponei da TerceiraTerceira Island, Azores, Portugal
PottokaPottok2001 population: 532; some semi-feral
Andalusian horse2001 population:
not nationally recognised, regional recognition only
SorraiaPortugal, population >100, semi-feral
Trotador EspañolSpanish Trotter2001 population:, of which 85% in the Balearic Islands