Action Plan for the Conservation of the Faroese Horse

The Faroese horse, one of the world’s rarest equine breeds, has faced a critical conservation challenge for decades. By the 1960s, the population had collapsed to just four mares and a single stallion, placing the breed on the brink of extinction. This extremely narrow genetic base created severe long-term risks and triggered sustained preservation efforts.

Although the population has slowly increased to around 90 individuals, the breed remains critically endangered. The Faroese horse is uniquely adapted to the harsh climate of the Faroe Islands, with traits shaped by centuries of isolation and rugged environmental conditions. These characteristics make the breed not only culturally significant but also an important reservoir of genetic diversity.

A long-term collaboration between the Faroe Islands and The Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen) was established in 2012. This partnership has played a central role in documenting the breed’s status, genetic challenges, and potential pathways for preservation.

Several key outputs have resulted from this collaboration. A population status and conservation possibilities report provided the first comprehensive overview of the breed’s demographic and genetic status and outlined strategies to safeguard its future. A peer-reviewed scientific article analysed the breed’s genetic makeup, identified key risk factors, and proposed conservation measures, helping to raise international awareness. In addition, an action plan for conservation of the Faroese horse set out concrete steps for population management, breeding strategies, and long-term sustainability.

These coordinated efforts have already produced significant practical outcomes. Most notably, in 2025 all stallions of the breed were cryopreserved, marking a major milestone in securing the breed's genetic material for future breeding programs. Cryopreservation provides an essential safety net, ensuring that valuable genetic lines remain protected even if the living population encounters new or unforeseen threats.

Together, these initiatives represent a major step forward in the long-term conservation of the Faroese horse. Although the population remains small and vulnerable, the collaborative conservation framework, grounded in scientific research, structured planning, and genetic safeguarding, offers renewed confidence in the continued survival of this rare and historically important Nordic breed.

Authors:

Peer Berg^2,4, Jens Ivan í Gerðinum¹, Mervi Honkatukia², Signa Kallsoy Ravnafoss³, Anne Kettunen², Maria Kjetså², Ellen-Louisa Fagerheim White², Jóna Ólavsdóttir^1,3.

¹Agricultural Agency of the Faroe Islands, Búnaðarstovan

²Nordic Genetic Resource Center, NordGen

³The Faroese Horse Association, Felagið Føroysk Ross

⁴ Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NMBU

Image copyright:

Cécile Zahorka, The Pixel Nomad