This is a list of the horse breeds usually considered to be native to Japan.[1][2] Some may have complex or obscure histories, so inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively Japanese. In Japanese, this breed group is called "kokunaiuma".(国内産馬, domestic horse)
English name | Japanese name | Notes | Image |
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Dosanko | 道産子, dosanko |
also called Hokkaido Horse | |
Kiso | 木曽馬, kiso uma |
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Misaki | 岬馬, misaki uma |
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Miyako | 宮古馬, miyako uma |
Native to Miyako Island. | |
Noma | 野間馬, noma uma |
Native to the island of Shikoku. | |
Tokara | トカラ馬, tokara uma |
Native to the Tokara Islands. | |
Taishū | 対州馬,Taishū uma |
Native to Tsushima Island. | |
Yonaguni | 与那国馬, yonaguni uma |
Native to the island of Yonaguni it is the smallest Japanese horse breed. |
There are also five crossbreeds that have been developed from existing breeds:[3]
Current crossbreed names were established in 2003,[note 2] and the general breed classification "乗系種" (riding horse) was split into Sport Horse and "normal" riding horse.[6]
There is also a sixth crossbreed definition, heavy crossbreed (輓交種), defined 2007 solely for the purpose of determining the proper registry for a foal.[6]