Przewalski's horses, Hustai National Park, Mongolia

© Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstoc

Just two pals horsin’ around. Przewalski's horses, Hustai National Park, Mongolia

The Hustai National Park in Mongolia is home to a very special and rare breed of horse, the Przewalski's horse. This equine species, which is regarded as the only truly pure wild horse today, is easily recognised by its pale yellowish-brown coat, a short, stiff mane, and short legs. The Przewalski's horse, also called 'takhi' in Mongolia, was once extinct in the wild but has been successfully reintroduced through conservation efforts in the 1990s. An interesting fact about these horses is that they have 66 chromosomes, compared to 64 in domestic horses. Remarkably, Przewalski's horses can mate with domestic horses to produce hybrids. These hybrids have 65 chromosomes and can breed and have their own offspring.