Mérens horse

1. Origin and history of the breed: The Mérens horse (French: Cheval Mérens or Ariégeois) is an ancient breed originating from the Pyrenees and the mountainous areas around the Ariège River in southwestern France. Its ancestors probably lived in this area thousands of years ago and resemble the small mountain horses from cave paintings. The breed has also been influenced by oriental blood, probably Arabian or Berber horses. Targeted breeding of the originally wild horses began in the early 20th century and a stud book was established in 1948