Benin horse breeds

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 In Benin the horse population is very small, with around 6,000 animals. Benin has only one horse breed: the Koto-Koli Pony, aka Kotokoli or Togo pony.

Map of Benin

Photo courtesy of Google.

Benin,  officially the Republic of Benin, and formerly known as Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north.

The majority of its population lives on the small southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean.

Koto-Koli Pony

Koto-Koli Pony

The  Koto-Koli Pony is a small pony (110-116cm at the withers). It is said to have originated in ancient Egypt and developed in Togo and Benin. The small size would be the result of the adaptation to the hard conditions of the area.

They are obviously of the eastern type, with backward neck (u-neck/elk neck), high set tail, and that is why they are assumed to be the remains of the old Egyptian horse preserved in this region.

Breed coordination is lacking and motorization and mechanization is not very favorable to this pony either. It is used as a working horse for transport.