The Horse That Won the West: History and Heritage of the Spanish Mustang

The remarkable Sorraia horse – a resilient breed that shaped American history from Spanish conquest to the modern West – now fights for survival in a contentious battle between preservation and progress.

In 1519, when indigenous peoples first encountered Hernán Cortés's mounted army, they believed they were witnessing supernatural creatures – half-man, half-beast. These "monsters" were Sorraia horses, compact but hardy steeds from southern Portugal whose stamina and adaptability would prove...