Konik

The Konik (Polish: konik polski or konik biłgorajski) or Polish primitive horse is a small horse, a kind of semiferal horse, originating in Poland. The Polish word konik (plural koniki) is the diminutive of koń, the Polish word for "horse" (sometimes confused with kuc, kucyk meaning "pony"). However, the name "konik" or "Polish konik" is used to refer to certain specific breeds. Koniks show many primitive markings, including a dun coat and dorsal stripe.

In 1936, Professor Tadeusz Vetulani of Poznań University began attempts to breed the recently extinct Tarpan back to its original state. To achieve this, he used horses from the Biłgoraj area descended from wild Tarpans captured in 1780 in Białowieża Forest and kept until 1808 in Zamoyski zoo. These had later been given to local peasants and crossbred with domestic horses. The Polish government commandeered all the koniks that displayed Tarpan-like features. The result of this selective breeding program is that semiwild herds of Koniks can be seen today in many nature reserves and parks, and can also be seen in the last refugium in Białowieża Forest.

Vetulani's breeding program is one of several attempts at breeding back the Tarpan. Other programs resulted in the Heck horse.

Read more about Konik:  Nature Reserves, Physical Characteristics, Prevalence in Poland, Breeding Centres