The Burmese Horse or is a Burmese breed of small horse. It is one of two horse breeds in Myanmar, the other being the Shan Horse.
History
The Burmese Horse is one of two horse breeds in Myanmar, the other being the Shan Horse. The two are sometimes treated as synonyms, but are separately reported to DAD-IS by the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development of Myanmar.
The population of the Burmese breed was last reported to DAD-IS in 1991, when there were breeding mares. In 2007 its conservation status was recorded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as "not at risk"; in 2026 its status was listed in DAD-IS as "unknown".
Characteristics
The Burmese Horse is well adapted to the hot and humid conditions of the country. Its coat is not as thick as that of the Shan Horse. Height at the withers is variously reported as for males and as without distinction of sex.
Use
It is used principally as a pack animal or to pull carts.
References Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to: The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. . Archived 23 June 2020.
Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. .
Burmese / Myanmar (Horse). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 2026.
Shan Pony / Myanmar (Horse). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 2026.
Breeds reported by Myanmar: Horse. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 2026.
National Consultative Committee (2005). National Report on Animal Genetic Resources, The Union of Myanmar; annex to: Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. . Archived 20 October 2021.