The genomic history of Iberian horses since the last Ice Age.
Abstract: Horses have inhabited Iberia (present-day Spain and Portugal) since the Middle Pleistocene, shaping a complex history in the region. Iberia has been proposed as a potential domestication centre and is renowned for producing world-class bloodlines. Here, we generate genome-wide sequence data from 87 ancient horse specimens (median coverage = 0.97X) from Iberia and the broader Mediterranean to reconstruct their genetic history over the last ~26,000 years. Here, we report that wild horses of the divergent IBE lineage inhabited Iberia from the Late Pleistocene, while domesticated DOM2 horses, native from the Pontic-Caspian steppes, already arrived ~1850 BCE. Admixture dating suggests breeding practices involving continued wild restocking until at least ~350 BCE, with IBE disappearing shortly after. Patterns of genetic affinity highlight the far-reaching influence of Iberian bloodlines across Europe and north Africa during the Iron Age and Antiquity, with continued impact extending thereafter, particularly during the colonization of the Americas.
© 2025. The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2025-08-02 PubMed ID: 40753154PubMed Central: PMC12317975DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62266-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research focused on exploring the genetic history of horses in Iberia, present-day Spain and Portugal, across the past roughly 26,000 years. Data was collected from 87 ancient horse specimens from Iberia and the Mediterranean region, revealing a complex lineage and suggesting that domesticated horses arrived around 1850 BCE.
Overview of the Research
- The study involved extracting genetic data from 87 ancient horse samples and analysing this to learn more about the origins and evolution of horses in Iberia, a region covering present-day Spain and Portugal.
- The specimens used in the study ranged across about 26,000 years, allowing for a comprehensive view of horse lineage over a substantial period.
- The aim was to understand more about the complex history of horses in this region, including insights into the timelines of wild and domesticated populations, breeding practices, influence on European and African bloodlines, and significant impacts across various historical periods.
Key Findings
- The research revealed that wild horses from a distinct lineage, named the IBE lineage, inhabited Iberia from the Late Pleistocene Epoch.
- The analysis also suggested that a breed of domesticated horses, known as DOM2 horses which originated from the Pontic-Caspian steppes, arrived in Iberia around 1850 BCE.
- Admixture dating was used to suggest that local breeding practices may have involved reintroduction of wild horses into the gene pool until as recently as 350 BCE.
- The IBE lineage appears to have disappeared shortly after this restocking ceased.
Impact and Influence of Iberian Horses
- The study’s findings suggest that the bloodlines of Iberian horses had a significant impact across Europe and north Africa during the Iron Age and Antiquity, the periods roughly covering 1200 BCE to 500 CE.
- Iberian horse bloodlines also had a notable influence during the colonization of the Americas, demonstrating a far-reaching influence geographically and over a long span of time.
- The research provides a more comprehensive understanding of the extensive history and influence of Iberian horses, informing our understanding of equine evolution and human-horse relationships over time.
Cite This Article
APA
(2025).
The genomic history of Iberian horses since the last Ice Age.
Nat Commun, 16(1), 7098.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62266-z Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / genetics
- Spain
- Portugal
- Genome
- Genomics
- Breeding
- Phylogeny
- History, Ancient
- DNA, Ancient / analysis
- Domestication
Grant Funding
- 681605-PEGASUS / EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council)
- 101071707 Synergy Grant Horsepower / EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council)
- 101062645 - ZEPHYRUS / EC | Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020)
Conflict of Interest Statement
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
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