WorldFengur – the studbook of origin for the Icelandic horse.

The research article discusses WorldFengur, a database that serves as the central registry for pure-bred Icelandic horses around the globe, backed by the Farmers Association of Iceland and the International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations.

WorldFengur: The Global Registry for Icelandic Horses

• The paper introduces WorldFengur as a comprehensive database that serves as the studbook of origin for Icelandic horses globally. It mentions that the project is a cooperative venture between the Farmers Association of Iceland (FAIC) and the International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations (FEIF).
• Only horses with a full Icelandic ancestry can be entered into the database, ensuring the maintenance of the pure-bred lineage of Icelandic horses. It is utilized to document and keep track of Icelandic horses in 19 different countries to date.

Database Information and Growth

• Sine its inception in 2001, the WorldFengur database has shown significant development and growth. It holds a wide variety of information including the horses’ lineage, offspring, breeders, results from breeding assessments, and sports competitions.
• Other useful data such as the horse’s coat colour, microchip numbers, health records, DNA profiles for ancestry validation, and the prediction values for breeding (BLUP) are also documented.
• WorldFengur demonstrates steady growth with an ongoing increase in the amount of data stored. This highlights its value as an important reference for Icelandic horse breeding globally.

Aligning with Regulations and Enhancing International Collaboration

• The project aligns with both national and international rules, such as the EU directive no 504/2008/EU on equidae identification, and continues to update itself with emerging requirements.
• The development of WorldFengur leverages international cooperation to address common problems, exhibiting a shared approach to global challenges in Icelandic horse breeding.

Future Directions for WorldFengur

• The paper underscores that the WorldFengur project continuously strives to stay abreast of the latest developments and changes in regulations, positioning itself as a relevant and vital tool in the industry.
• As the database continues to evolve, it provides ever-increasing value to the global community of Icelandic horse breeders and owners, aiding in their collective goal of preserving and enhancing this unique breed.