Mallorcan horse: origin, morphology, and uses of the Mallorcan horse
The Mallorquín horse (in Catalan, cavall mallorquí) is the native breed of Mallorca. It is a black, tall, and slender horse, bred for centuries for field work, which today is primarily used for leisure riding and carriage driving. This file contains the official data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's Catalog of Breeds.
Basic data
| Name | Mallorquina (cavall mallorquí) |
|---|---|
| Classification | Native breed |
| Origin | Island of Mallorca |
| Height at withers | 162 cm for males and 161 cm for females |
| Weight | 467 kg for males and 456 kg for females |
| Coat | Black, in all its variants |
| Main use | Leisure |
Origin and history
According to the Ministry, it descends from the southern variant of the primitive horses of the Iberian Peninsula, and there are references to the breed since ancient times. It was closely linked to agricultural tasks and stood out for its production of mules; to a lesser extent, it was used for pulling small carriages. Stud farms were kept alongside agricultural holdings, and with the mechanization of farming, its census fell significantly.
Today it lives in Mallorca, especially on old farmsteads and occasionally on agricultural holdings.
What it looks like: morphology
- Overall: eumetric and sub-longilinear, with a slightly convex profile and a slender silhouette.
- Height: 162 cm reference for males and 161 cm for females.
- Coat: only black, in any of its variants. White markings on the face are permitted.
- Character: the Ministry highlights its resistance, hardiness, sobriety, and good character.
What it is used for
Due to its history, it is suited for agricultural work, mule production, riding, and carriage driving. Today it has been oriented towards leisure riding: its gaits are slow, rhythmic, and firm, with a uniform stride, and its character makes it predisposed to carriage driving.
Breeding program
The breeding program for the cavall mallorquí was approved by resolution of the General Directorate of Agricultural Productions and Markets of the Government of the Balearic Islands on October 18, 2019. The latest update is from November 13, 2024.
We also have the file for the other Balearic horse, the Menorquín horse.
More breeds with their own file on our page of native horse breeds of Spain.
Sources
- Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Official Catalog of Livestock Breeds of Spain, Mallorquina: general data, morphological data, uses and farming system, productive data, breeding program.
