In 1881, Colonel Nicholai M. Pzewalski had left on an expedition and stumbled upon a herd of horses. The horses were quite different than any other breed seen before. These rugged horses were a living link between the modern horse and prehistoric ancestors. The Przewalski Horse is the oldest surviving equine in existence. This breed is native to Mongolia and is also often called the "Mongolian Wild Horse."

These horses stand between 12 and 14 hands. They have thick heads, rather large ears, and large nostrils. Their legs are short but strong boned. Their mane is bristled and stands off the neck. They can appear in a variety of dun shades. Also, a dorsal stripe can be found running down the length of the back.

There is approximately 40 or so Przewalski Horses left in the wild in Mongolia, and about 200 in zoos located worldwide. The Przewalski Horse lives in isolation in a harsh, demanding environment, where only the heartiest survive. For many years man has threatened the breed with extinction, which leaves it an endangered species today. The International Museum of the Horse (IMH) claims that this rugged breed is "the oldest horse still in existence" and that "it is believed to be a direct or collateral ancestor of all living breeds."