The Little Horse of Skyros: Preserving Greece’s Native Wildlife

Walking through Amanda Simpson’s farm on the small Greek island of Skyros, the devotion to these wild little horses is impossible to miss. As Simpson strides ahead, introducing her older mares, the younger ones in the opposite field lift their heads and rush over. The true Skyrian horse is unmistakable: no white markings, a solid block of colour, a thick mane and tail, and never taller than 116 centimetres at the withers, often smaller.

Skyros is a small Greek island in the Northern Sporades group of the northwest Aegean Sea, with a population of just under 4,000. The local endemic and critically endangered wild pony, Equus caballus subsp. Skyriano has become central to ongoing discussions of land usage and cultural preservation on the island. 

The staggering decline in wild animals and global biodiversity has spurred increased conservation efforts. The case of the Skyrian horse, with thoroughbreds numbering approximately 300 worldwide (though this number is not certain), is the latest in this decline. A breadth of study has found that wild animals – no matter how small – are a crucial pillar in the mosaic of global ecosystemic function.

Why the Skyriano? 

A paper published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution found that free-roaming horses help to create a mosaic of diverse, nature-rich habitats by breaking up grasslands and creating wallowing areas. At the same time, they also contribute to the spread of plant species and act as natural fertilisers. 

Results from the GrazeLIFE initiative confirmed that mosaic landscapes, complete with naturally occurring populations of free-roaming herbivores (such as horses), can significantly reduce the scale and impact of climate change. Wild horses also drive the growth of nature-based tourism. WWF writes, "Recovering wild animal species should no longer be considered a ‘nice to have’ but an essential part of securing the future resilience of our planet."

Although the Skyriano is just one species, the effort to preserve this breed is part of a growing pattern of rewilding and conservation projects worldwide that aim to protect wild animals not just for their aesthetic or emotional value but for their broader ecological roles. 

The Case for Wild Grazing

Many people on the island emphasise that these animals are central to the community and form a pillar of Skyrian culture. They were also once part of the landscape biodiversity, which, with the encroachment of overgrazing, is now disappearing. 

The majority of Skyrian horses can be found at two main concentrations: approximately 31 at the Friends of the Skyrian Horse, run by Simpson, and Mouries Farm, which also runs the non-profit organisation Skyrian Horse Breeding and Conservation Centre. The founder, Trachanas, owns 65 horses, which is one-fourth of the island’s total population. The rest of the Skyrian horses are scattered across the island in small groups, owned and cared for by individuals. 

History of Skyrian horses

The skyriano horse has likely existed since roughly 2500 BC and is perfectly adapted to the island's conditions, native to the Kochylas Mountain in southern Skyros. It is part of the Natura 2000, a European network of protected areas created to conserve habitats and species. 

As humans gradually took over the island, the space for these horses decreased drastically, and many began taking steps to protect them by enclosing them and providing imported feed, such as hay from the mainland. 

The mountain region, according to Simpson, has been utterly overgrazed since at least the 1900s, so there is not enough ‘naturally occurring’ food for the horses to survive on. Local herders occupy large areas of land, supported by the local council, while the rest of the land either belongs to the army or the church. Grazing animals such as sheep and goats on the mountain is more cost-effective for herders, as it means they don’t have to buy additional feed. These herds are also the main source of income for many farmers. 

Consequently, a tension arises between herders and those who preserve the horses as to how these wild spaces are utilised and under whose authority.

The island’s vegetation is also affected by climate change and by human activities such as overgrazing, excessive wood harvesting, and man-made fires. Limited studies suggest that grazing by sheep and goats in the fragile ecosystems of Skyros, particularly on rocky cliff faces accessible to goats and hosting rarer plant species, causes landscape damage. Conversely, stopping grazing altogether may lead to the encroachment of woody plants. 

"The local herders have become so used to overgrazing," Simpson told FairPlanet. "By regenerative grazing the mountain, you could bring it back to life, which would actually help their sheep and goats."

"It is our vision to return the horses to the mountain, but without the support from the local council, it’s not possible," said Danae Christodoulou, who runs the volunteer programmes at Mouries Farm. 

Christodoulou explained that sheep and goats are raised in larger fields, left unattended on land that was once used for horses. Those who aim to keep these horses as they once did – left to roam freely during winter and venture back to farms as pasture became barren – are now obliged to feed and house these horses all year round, at substantial cost. 

Trachanas, who runs Mouries farm, is a rare case on the island, as he owns a larger field – a steep mountainside just next to his farm – suitable for winter pasture. He releases his mares (adult female horses) and his geldings (castrated male horses) in early winter; the stallions are kept in a separate enclosure. 

Efforts to Care for the Skyriano

Animal Action Greece, a UK-based charity operating in Greece since 1959, brings their team to Skyros to treat Skyrian horses and other species. They provide educational support to equine owners on the island since there are no qualified vets for them.

Veterinarian Kostas Okkas, specialised in equine obstetrics, explained that each Skyrian horse must be legally chipped and registered in the governmental system, which requires a name and the creation of a veterinary record. This is done to keep track of the animal and any previous treatments, such as worming or vaccination, and is also crucial for access to funding.

As well as protecting living Skyrian horses, the two sanctuaries run by Trachanas and Simpson, respectively, are also invested in preserving the breed standard. The purpose of the breed standard is to create horses with good character and no health issues. Overall, a good example of the breed. 

Greek Farming Scandal

A recent corruption scandal by OPEKEPE – the government agency tasked with supervising and paying EU agricultural subsidies – in which some farmers, enabled by state employees, faked pastureland ownership to receive EU aid. The misappropriated funds were worth more than 22 million euros between 2019 and 2024. Amid ongoing investigation, payments to farmers have been delayed, with up to 660 million euros still to be distributed. 

The Skyrian horse projects are receiving government grants, though the recent farming scandal delayed payments by 2 years. As long as a horse is chipped and properly registered, they are supplied with approximately 600 euros per horse each year, which accounts for roughly half of the cost. These government subsidies are reserved specifically for those horses that can be bred, as the incentive is to grow the species. 

The first grants in two years were distributed in late November, early December 2025.

The scandal is a stark reminder of how complex corruption can be at the governmental and regional levels - revealing that even when funding is secured, it may not reach its intended purpose or be used in ways that truly support the animal’s welfare.

"European funding predominantly goes into bricks and mortar," explained Simpson, referring to incentives to build physical infrastructure rather than purchase large amounts of hay to feed the horses. Other programmes that tend to be overlooked for funding include efforts to rewild the mountain - projects that could transform it into a wildlife area supporting native ecology and, in turn, preserving long-term grazing land for the horses.

"There is a mindset in these areas that is not so easily changed; their relationship to animals is different, and so this cultural shift requires sensitivity," Farrier Tasos Skyllas explained to FairPlanet while treating a young five-year-old Skyrian horse suffering from severe laminitis.

The Future of the Skyriano 

According to some locals, the future of the species looks murky.

"I don’t envisage a future for the ponies," said Marion Auffrey, a local resident who adopted a Skyrian horse. "The municipality only uses the ponies to advertise the island as a tourist destination."

Auffrey explained that she continues to care for her horses because "they are family," but indicated that she has no intention of breeding them. 

Simpson noted, "What’s the purpose of developing a breed if you don't know what their long-term future is? The most important thing is that there is a wild space that is managed for these horses."

Auffrey further stated that selling the horses is prohibited under the Protected Animals law established in 2011.

"As we know, in a capitalist society, a breed that doesn’t have a market value is bound to disappear."

According to Auffrey, one of the main factors determining a species’ survival is its economic value. At present, the Skyrian horse, aside from children’s riding tours and the community’s emotional attachment, offers little in terms of financial return.

With funding expected to resume next year, those caring for the Skyrian horse will continue their work - at least for the sake of their own animals. In the long term, however, breeding the horses without restoring suitable wild habitat risks reinforcing a 'zoo-like' conservation model that many view as unsustainable.

Images by Francesca Norrington.