Category: Wild Horse Regions

Overview Wild horse populations are extensive over West Australian range lands, mostly comprising pastoral leases and unallocated Crown Land.  Particularly large numbers occur in the Kimberly, Pilbara and the Goldfields. In some areas, local populations that have been isolated for many years have maintained historical bloodlines from the time that they were imported to Australia and bred for agricultural use such as draft animals or livestock management.  Member Group, the Outback Heritage Horse Association of WA has rescued, rehomed and/or has maintained watching briefs on heritage horse groups from a number of areas, including the Mt Welcome, Mt Weld, Earaheedy… Continue reading

Overview View photos of: Barmah Brumbies Bogong High Plains Brumbies Eastern Alps Brumbies Most Victorian brumbies are located in mountainous areas particularly the Eastern Alps and Bogong High Plains.  An isolated population exists in the Barmah Forest and scattered mobs have been seen throughout East Gippsland. Wild horses have been known in Victoria for over 100 years.  The establishment of National Parks over much of their range area has focused attention on managing numbers because of environmental concerns. The Victorian Brumby Association has prepared excellent information sheets on the major areas of brumby habitat: Alpine National Park Brumbies Barmah Forest… Continue reading

Overview View photos of Coffin Bay Brumbies Wild horses are widely distributed in the arid zone of South Australia, including the Strzelecki, Sturt Stony and Simpson deserts as well as the Anangu Pitjantjatjara.    It is believed that most of these horses were derived from abandoned stock bred for military purposes in Australia and for export to British colonies such as India. A distinct group of horses on the coast near Port Lincoln is the Coffin Bay Pony.  Sixty Timor ponies were brought to the area in 1839 by the Hawson family to be used for breeding horses on the Eyre… Continue reading

Overview View photos of Toolara-Tuan Forest Brumbies Brumbies are widely distributed on grazing land, National Parks, State Forest and military ranges; the largest numbers are generally located in Cape York, the north-western part of the Queensland-NT border, Carnarvon National Park and an area south of Maryborough. Wild horses exist in lesser numbers in many other areas such as the Murphy’s Creek Ballad district (Gatton Shire),  Clement State Forest north of Townsville, commercial forests along the Fraser Coast and near Beerburrum (Sunshine Coast Hinterland) and the Townsville and Greenbank Military Training Areas.    Removal of horses has taken place in all of… Continue reading

Overview Large numbers of brumbies are present in the Gulf District as well as the Victoria River area and from Darwin south to Katherine.   The islands of Bathurst, Melville, Vanderlin and the Sir Edward Pellew Island Group are also home to wild horses. Records indicate that wild horses were present on the Coburg Peninsula since the 1820’s and were well established in Central Australia during the 1870’s.   From 1838-1849 Timor Ponies were imported to Port Essington on the Coburg Peninsula, representing the first major introduction of horses to Australia since arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. References Dawson, M… Continue reading