Caspian

Introduction:  The world's smallest rare horse breed!  If you have any comments or suggestions, please click here.

Names:  Caspian.  Known locally as Mouleki or Pouseki ponies.  Mrs. Firouz, who worked to preserve them, called them "Caspian Ponies."  This is often called a pony.  Actually, it is a miniature horse.  Like the other small and miniature horses on this site, it is listed under pony due to size.

Origin:  These are wild ponies that come from a small area between the Elburz and the shores of the Caspian in Iran.  They originated in Persia 5,000 years ago and were believed extinct until 1965, when they were rediscovered.

Breeding:  Only about 100 still exist; there were fewer than 50 surviving Caspian horses when the breed was rediscovered.  It is believed that it descends from the wild native pony of Iran.

Description:  Sources have described it as shaped like a miniature Thoroughbred and not unlike miniature Arabians.  The Caspian is a miniature horse rather than a pony.

Color:  Usually bay or brown; also gray.  Never has white markings.

Head:  Has characteristic shortened lower jaws.

Legs:  Long.

Size:  9.2-11.2 hands.  One source states that their maximum height is 9 hands.

Temperament:   Exemplary.

Features:  Caspians can keep up with larger horses at every gait except the gallop.

Uses:  Good at jumping.  Natives use them mostly for speedy carting in and around the bazaars.  It is found that they breed true to type and make wonderful children's ponies.

Accomplishments: 

Curiosities:  It is recorded in one book that local American and European children raced in honor of the young Crown Prince's birthday, some of them riding Caspian stallions.  Some believe that the Caspian is the original ancestor of the Arabian, although the Arabian's skeleton is different from that of all other breeds.

Profiles: 

Conclusion:  

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