A phylogenetic analysis of brumbies.

A brumby is a “wild” horse that is the descendant of domesticated horses that escaped from, or were released from, grazing properties. “Wild” horses in the Guy Fawkes River National Park (GFRNP) in New South Wales have relatively high genetic similarity with Arabian-type breeds and/or saddle and harness light horses (for example, Thoroughbreds), and are also genetically similar to Walers (horses bred in the colony of New South Wales for the Army remount trade in India, South Africa and the Middle East). Horses in the GFRNP have a relatively low level of inbreeding, and are not a significant reservoir of unique genes. All of these attributes are consistent with local anecdotal evidence (which suggests a more-or-less continual introduction of “outside” blood). The genetic evidence is, therefore, consistent with the concept of brumby.