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Caspian horse

Caspian horse

The Caspian is an Iranian breed of pony or small horse of Oriental type. The breed was rediscovered in 1965 by an Iranian aristocrat in Tehran, Narcy Firouz, and his American-born wife, Louise Laylin, from a base stock of a small number of small horses found in the Elburz Mountains in Amol. In 2011, the remains of a small horse dating back to 3400 B.C.E. were found at Gohar Tappeh, Iran, giving rise to claims that today's Caspian originates from the oldest known breed of the domestic horse. It is also one of the rarest horse breeds and its population status is critically endangered.

Life Span 25-30 years
Weight 380-550 kg

What to Know Before Buying a Caspian horse

Finding a responsible Caspian horse breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells horses commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.

Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Caspian horse. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.

Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Caspian horses appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.

Looking for a Caspian horse breeder?

Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.

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