During my presentation on the Cowboy Culture of the Pantanal, I briefly touched on the fact that there is in fact a horse breed called the Pantaneiro. I decided to do some more research, and it was surprisingly way easier to find information on the horse breed as opposed to the actual Pantaneiros (cowboys) of the region. There was a surprising amount of research done on the genetics of this breed. The breed has existed in Brazil for three centuries and is largely a product of natural selection due to the sparse human population of the region. The extreme environment has caused the breed to have several adaptations including excellent swimming capabilities, ability to graze underwater, and resistance to many tropical diseases. They have longs legs and are known for their intelligence, good temperament, and excellent cow sense. The traditional colors of this breed are black, grey, and bay (brown with black mane and tale). The Pantaneiro was at risk of becoming extinct due to diseases and cross-breeding, but thanks to careful efforts by the Brazilian Association of Pantanal Horse Breeders (ABCCP), which was established in 1972, the Pantatneiro is starting to make a comeback, although it is still in a vulnerable state. Many breeding programs have been created for its conservation. Currently, over 5,000 horses are officially registered for the breed. It seemed interesting that so much effort is being placed on conserving this "non-native" species. But over the past three hundred years, these horses have become integral to the lives of the people living in the Pantanal, and it makes sense that so much importance is placed on their conservation considering their role in cattle ranching.
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