The Camargue Horse is one of the oldest breeds on earth. It originated in a triangle that is in the south of France. The Camargue Regional Park was established in 1928; its main purpose is to protect the horses and the cattle of Camargue from human interference. The climate of the area is often harsh. Whether it's suffering under the scorching sun or withstanding the cold and icy winds of the Alps, the Camargue is breed that has withstood extreme conditions as well as lack of food sources. These characteristics have led the Camargue Horse sometimes be referred to as the "horse of the sea." It is has been in the area since the prehistoric times. It is also said that they are the descendents of the Soutre horse, a presently extinct breed.
The evolution of the Camargue has been influenced by the passing of many different armies over the years; such armies include the Romans, the Greek, and the Arabs. It is said that the Camargue had an impression on the early Spanish horses as many soldiers took them back home.
The Camargue Horse herds work as a family unit, though they run wild, the herds usually consist of a stallion, his mares, and their offspring. The colts are usually rounded up and branded as a yearling at the age of three; colts that are thought to be unsuitable for reproduction later in life are gelded. The breeding of the Camargue is for the most part, wild and free natured, but still under a minimal supervision by the Biological Research Station of La Tour Du Valat. This agency allows people to observe a wild horse in its natural environment and therefore develop a better understanding.
The Camargue is always born black or brown but as it gets older it turns a shade of grey or white. It is able to endure long trips and general long periods of time without food.
The Camargue Horse is favored and used as the mounts for the "Guardians" or Camargue "cowboys" who round up the Camargue bulls that are used in the bull fights of southern France.
The Camargue Horse is often seen as a romantic icon of the area, as many are seen galloping through the water.
In an act to preserve these horses, in 1978, the French Government set standards for the breed and began to register them. It was in that year that the official studbook was set up and in order to be considered a Camargue horse, it had to be by a set of guidelines or rules; the foal was required to be born out in the open and it had to feed off the mare in order to prove it's the mother. Foals that are born within the official lines of the Camargue area are registered as sous berceau and the foals born on the outside of the area are registered hors berceau, which means "outside of the birthplace."
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