West Appa Mustang
Basic Information
Anatomy
The breed is a hardy, relatively short, and stocky, adapted to hilly terrain and harsh conditions. Their legs have light feathering on their backs, but does not extend around or all the way to the hoof. West Appas are known to have incredible hearing and are quite vigilant, and will take off with great speed and power at the first sign of trouble. Despite a smaller size than the majority of domesticated horses, West Appas are known to be quite strong, more akin to smaller draft breeds.
The breed comes in a wide array of colors, most originating from domestic horses, though many coat types seem to be exclusive to the breed, having originated with them and them alone. Many of these patterns show similarities to ancient horses from the paleolithic era, and have been suggested by researchers to potentially be due to extremely old recessive genes spreading within the population due to an extreme genetic bottleneck in the past. Striping, Capped or Black headed, and Blanket patterns are extraordinarily common.
Top: Blue Tiger Dapple, Tiger Grullo, Tiger Grullo Blanket, Silver Tiger, Few Spot Silver Blanket, Blue Roan.
Bottom: Chestnut Blackcap, Capped Leopard, Light Tiger Bay, Bay, Blood Tiger, Spotted Blackhead
Dietary Needs and Habits
Due to living in a more heavily forested environment, this horse breed feeds on a wider array of vegetation than most domestics. Clovers, ferns, shrubs, and even the occasional young deciduous tree's leaves are all on the menu. Among Western Appalacia's waterways and rivers the horses are known to be particularly fond of wetland plants such as bullrush. Like many feral and wild horses, this breed spends the majority of its time foraging, due to the poorer nutrition of wild plants and their higher scarcity compared to domestics, and can be hard to switch to hay and pellet feed if caught and tamed.
In some areas of north Appalachia, such as Michigan and New York, the horses are known to be occasional nuisances to orchards by hopping fences and feasting on apples, pears, peaches, blueberries, and other fruits. In the late fall, it is not uncommon to see local news stories about entire herds having eaten fermenting and discarded fruit and become 'drunk', and a hassle to workers.
Behaviour
Beyond raw strength or beauty, perhaps the most well known trait of the species is its stubbornness. Wild-caught West Appas can be quite difficult to switch to hays and pellet feeds, and may often refuse to take them entirely even when extremely hungry and given no other option. The species is also frequently likened to mules or donkeys in that they can oftentimes refuse orders from their riders, prioritizing their own safety and comfort if a trail is too dangerous. While this stubbornness can be an issue for many ordinary riders, it makes them highly desirable among certain groups such as the Pack of Ferventi.
Wild-caught West Appas are also extremely savvy in their native environments when left to their own devices. It is not uncommon for escapees or released animals to be able to fend for themselves for years without issue, integrating themselves into wild herds easily. They have rather high aggression to wild predators and are considered by many to be more vigilant than domestic horses, often taking a role as livestock guardians, making them more likely to charge and chase animals such as bears, mountain lions, and coyotes rather than flee.
Additional Information
Domestication
The breed was originally a domestic, originating in the human era from human's domestic horses. It is thought that most of the breed originating from domestics released or escaped during the uprising of dragons, and later on bred with wild horses in what is now Laramidia and Great Plains, before moving back east due to competition from other animals such as bison and the Laramidia Mule, taking over an open niche.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Due to numerous unique coat patterns, a hardy nature, and powerful body, the species is quite desirable as work horses in Appalachia and Laramidia. Commonly, the horses are tamed and sold by the Pack of Ferventi to local ranchers, who often cross breed them with domesticated horses for their coats or for making lines of hardy horses more adapted to the environment.
The Pack in particular is known to use the horses due to their stubborn nature for more inexperienced riders, such as outsiders to the group and young teens or children. These horses make up the bulk of their herds, traveling through harsh terrain easily and without issue. Oftentimes, they are used to pull sleds, haul supplies, and to keep watch for wild animals alongside being used in hunts.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Origin/Ancestry
Natural- Feral Horse breed
Conservation Status
The West Appa Mustang is considered a feral or naturalized species, in that they have become accustomed to the wild, and their impact on the environment has been adapted to by most species that live alongside them. Despite this, the species is entirely descended from domesticated horses, most likely those that were released or escaped during the human era.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Dun, Bay, Chestnut, Blue roan, Buckskin, and Gray are very common coat colors. Dapple, leopard, appaloosa, brindle, blanket, and reverse leopard are common patterns. Greying is also common in the breed.
Geographic Distribution
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