THE BREEDS OF HORSES 145 



natural order, thus forming a most instructive collection. 



So we know that the horse has lived in America for mil- 

 lions of years. Before the time of Columbus and the early 

 explorers nothing is known of the use of domesticated 

 animals either in North or South America. 



The first use of the horse by man is supposed to have 



Figure 33. A wild pony captured in Central Asia, owned by the New York 

 Zoological Park. Photograph by Edwin R. Sanborn. 



been for food. Later he became domesticated, and was used 

 for bearing burdens on his back. There are some forms of 

 ponies at the present time that are supposed to be closely 

 related in appearance to the more recent prehistoric horse. 

 Some years ago in central Asia, true wild horses of pony size 

 were discovered by a famous Russian explorer. These and 



