Horses were the engines that moved into place the very foundations of human civilization. Since ancient times, people have bred horses to harness their strength—for use in transportation, agriculture, work, and war.
Some have pinned the first domestication of horses to as early as 3500 B.C., while others have pointed to evidence attesting to origins far more ancient, perhaps even 12,000 years ago.
A herd of Mongolian horses. (byamba-ochir byambasuren/Shutterstock)
It is widely believed that some of the most ancient breeds of horses came from the steppes of Eurasia. The Mongolian horse is one such breed, yet breeds such as the Caspian compete for the title of the most ancient horse in existence, as do several others. There are myriad ancient horse breeds—all of which have contributed to those of modern times commonly known today….