Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758

Equino, caballo, Horse

Only known feral horses were on Sierra Negra, Isabela and these were caught and taken to farms in 2004-2006. No sightings of feral horses in recent years.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Animalia

Phylum
Chordata

Class
Mammalia

Order
Perissodactyla

Family
Equidae

Genus
Equus

Species
caballus

Taxon category: Accepted

Origin: Introduced - established

Introduction

Year of first record: 1832

Year of introduction: 1832

Mode of introduction: Intentional

Introduction Pathway: Intentional

Subpathway: Animals for breeding

Introduced status: Naturalized

Invasive status: Unlikely to become invasive

Distribution

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

Distribution: Present on farms on Floreana, Isabela, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz.

References

  • Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. Carrión, V., Zabala, J., Buitrón, P. & Milstead, B. (2007) Status of introduced vertebrates in Galapagos. Galapagos Report 2006–2007. Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, p. 136–141.
  • Jácome, M. (1989) Mamíferos introducidos en Galápagos. Informe técnico para la Fundación Charles Darwin y Servicio Parque Nacional. Galápagos. Puerto Ayora, Ecuador. 33 pp.
  • Coulter, J. (1845) Adventures in the Pacific; with observations on the natural productions, manners and customs of the natives of the various islands; together with remarks on missionaries, British and other residents, etc. William Curry, Jun. and Co., Dublin, 290 pp.
  • Carrión, V. Donlan, J., Campbell, K., Lavoie, C. & Cruz, F. (2006) Feral Donkey (Equus asinus) Eradications in the Galápagos. Biod. and Cons. DOI 10.1007/s10531-005-5825-7.
  • Phillips, R. B. D.A. Wiedenfeld and H.L. Snell (2012) Current status of alien vertebrates in the Galápagos Islands: invasion history, distribution, and potential impacts. Biol Invasions (2012) 14:461–480 DOI 10.1007/s10530-011-0090-z

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This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Equus caballus", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=5210. Accessed 11 May 2025.