More About ... The Sorraia is nearly extinct. A few herds are
maintained in a half dozen places in Spain and a few in Germany.
The Sorraia Horse has no history as a domestic breed, but old
documents show that these horses were brought to the Americas by
the Spanish conquistadors. The Sorraia coloring is always dun or
grullo with a dark muzzle area, black dorsal stripe, black-
tipped ears, usually zebra stripes on the legs, and occasionally
a stripe across the shoulders, neck and back. The black mane and
tail are fringed by lighter-colored hair. Sorraia foals are born
with a zebra-like pattern all over. Sorraia blood in the
Americas is evident, as several breeds in both North and South
America bear the dun and grullo coloration and other physical
characteristics of this ancient horse. The Sorraia generally
stands at about14 hands high. Domesticated Sorraias have been
broken to ride and used for herding livestock. The Sorraia is
noted for its ability to withstand extremes of climate,
particularly dry, hot climat