This entry has been submitted by Dr. Victor Moraga and Enrique Zunzunegui of Horse Path Ltd.
Species: Equus caballus
Subspecies/Breed/Type: Bagual / Creole of Patagonia
Country: Chile
Region/Province/Range: Torres del Paine National Park
Population type: Feral
Estimated Population size: between 130-150 horses (2015 estimate)
Management Authority: Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF)
Details of Population:
The herd moves through difficult terrain as one tight group with little separation between family bands, making it difficult to have a complete population count. It is not easy to recognize and identify the horses as the horses sport very similar coat colours and markings. More observations are recommended.
Preliminary evidence suggests that the herd suffers predation from puma (Puma concolor), which apparently keeps the population growth rate in check.
Structure and demographics:
From the observations made it seems that the stallion to mare ratio could be about 1,5-1,6:1. In November 2010 Horse Path Ltd. counted a total of 27 new-born foals. In February 2011, only 4 foals remained indicating a high foal mortality rate. The factors causing this high foal mortality rate are still under investigation, but it seems likely that predation by puma (Puma concolor) is the most likely cause. Stallion harrasment of mares that have recently foaled is another candidate or factor likely to cause foal deaths.
Issues worth noting and needed actions
This herd is still considered as an invasive species that need to be removed from the National Park. However, Horse Path Ltd. have been given a 1 year concession to study the horses and therefore a 10 year moratorium for possible extermination has been achieved.
Further reading
Visit the website of Horse Path Ltd. for more information. (In spanish)
If you have further information or images you would like to share please contact us by email.
More entries to the Wild Equus Atlas;
Venezuelan Creoles WE – Entry from Dr. Jose Luis Canelon
Pottoka Piornal ponies WE – Entry from Lucy Ress
Pryor Mountain wild horses WE – Entry from Dr. Jason Ransom
McCullough Peaks horses – Entry from Dr. Jason Ransom
Aveto horses (WE) – Entry from Evelina Isola
Galician wild ponies WE – Entry from Dr. Laura Lagos
Namibia Desert horses WE – Entry from Dr. Telané Greyling
Delft Island horses WE – Entry from Wild Equus
Little Book Cliffs Wild Horses WE – Entry from Dr. Jason Ransom
Gower ponies WE – Entry from Jennie Nellist
Baguales WE – Entry from Dr. Victor Moraga and Enrique Zunzunegui
Exmoor Ponies WE – Entry from Sue McGeever
Tornquist feral horses WE – Entry from Dr. Alberto Scorolli
Sabucedo horses WE – Entry from Ivan Sanmartin Eirin
Cumberland Island horses WE – Entry from Wild Equus
Feral horses of Cotopaxi WE – Entry from Javier Solis Méndez, Lucy Rees, Johanna Marlès and Juan Bermeo
Please share this initiative far and wide. Gracias!
This is an ongoing work, and as such, will be updated regularly as new information is made available.
Ethology - Wild Equus - Horses - Behavior 
to Wild Equus network.
Im Victor Moraga, working and followig pasture patterns in this horses, is not just romantic, its a way of life for me.
We have a 10 year cocnssesion to study this horses, we need Cientists and volunteers for this task.
Hope this Network helps to find more people like us.
saludos desde Patagonia, chilena.