 Hog Island sheep are a breed of sheep descended from animals first brought to Virginia 's Hog Island in the 18th century . During the 1930s and 1940s , storm conditions forced the island 's residents to evacuate , leaving some sheep behind . These sheep adapted to the environment free of human intervention , becoming feral . The breed is preserved by various heritage-oriented farmers. nobody knows for sure how many breeds of sheep there are in the world, but the number is certainly above 100. The breeds are grouped into about 20 categories, and the Hog Island sheep are a member of the mammalian class.
