THE HORSE. 27 



ported to Florida in 1527 by Cabeza de Vaca, but of this im- 

 portation — 42 in number — none survived. 



The next importation was by De Soto from Spain, and to 

 which importation is doubtless attributed the origin of the 

 wild horse of Texas and the prairies, — a race of horse which 

 are to this day strongly marked with the characteristics of the 

 Spanish blood. 



In 1608 the French introduced horses into Canada, where 

 the present race of Canadian horses, though degenerated in 

 size owing to climatic influences, still show sufficiently distinct 

 the blood of the Norman and Brittain breeds. 



In 1609 there was a small importation of six horses and one 

 stallion from England to Jamestown, Va., where in 1657 the 

 importance of increasing the stock of this valuable animal 

 became of such recognized importance that an act was passed 

 prohibiting its exportation. 



New York received its first importation of horses in 1625, 

 imported from Holland by the Dutch "West India Company. 

 They were of the Flanders breed, from which descended the 

 Conestoga horse of Pennsylvania. 



In 1629 the plantations of Massachusetts Bay received its 

 first importation of horses from England. 



The wild horses of the plains of South America and of the 

 great prairies of North America are undoubtedly descendants 

 of parents turned loose by the Spanish at the abandonment of 

 Buenos Ayres in 1775. 



Another opportunity for such an origin was furnished in the 

 "bloody wars" of Mexico and Peru, the issues of which, in 

 many cases, were disastrous to the Spaniards. Consequently, 

 the war horses whose riders were slain could have made a 

 break for- liberty, and rapidly propagated their species on the 

 vast, luxuriant plains, so well provided by Nature with food, 

 water, genial climate, and the absence of beasts of prey with 

 power to contend with so formidable an enemy. 



De Soto also had a large cavalry in his expedition in which 

 he discovered the Mississippi River and found a grave in 



