 In the mid-1990s, Romneys comprised 58% of the New Zealand sheep flock (estimated in 2000 at 45 million), with Coopworths (originally Border Leicester on Romney crosses) and Perendales (originally Cheviot on Romney crosses) making up another 16.6%, Merinos 7%, and Corriedales 5.5% of the national flock.The New Zealand export lamb trade started in 1882 with a shipment aboard the "Dunedin" of 4,900 frozen carcasses to London's Smithfield Market.This was by far the biggest meat cargo ever carried over such a distance to that time.