The Friends of the Yukon Wild Horses Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to monitoring, documenting, and protecting the wild horses of the Yukon. We aim to raise awareness about their ecological and cultural importance, while advocating for their conservation and well-being.
Wild horses in the Yukon face several threats, including habitat loss, human interference, and in some cases, intentional harm.
The government offered a bounty for wildie ears until the late 1970s. We don’t know how successful this was, if it managed to eliminate all wildies, or if a few persisted deep in the wilderness. Then in the 1980s and the 1990s there was a large influx of horses due to two outfitters no longer being able to care for their horses, due to death and health issues, and abandoning them into the wilderness. The government worked hard to round them up, the last round up was in 2014. A horse wrangler was killed during this round up, spooking the government. Since they had not made shooting the horses illegal, in the last decade they have relied on local landowners to keep the wild horse population in check. Traditionally wild horses have been shot to feed sled dogs and to provide bait for trap lines, as well as for hunting predators. Horses were also captured occasionally by outfitters.
These challenges underscore the need for increased protections to ensure the herds’ survival and their ecosystems’ health.
This is a good first step, but without oversight and enforcement, it will have little meaning.�
In 2024 new animal welfare laws came into effect in the Yukon. Without expressed government permission, wild horses can no longer be harassed, captured, harmed or killed.
It has been scientifically proven that wild horses originated in the Yukon and Alaska and migrated to the rest of the world. They became extinct in the Yukon about 5000 years ago. Today, our wild horses in the Yukon are considered descendants of horses introduced to the region centuries ago. They have since adapted to the local environment, becoming an integral part of the Yukon’s ecosystems and heritage.
All horses in the world today originally came from sturdy arctic ponies living in the Yukon and Alaska, who travelled across the Bering land bridge into Eurasia.
Horses went extinct in North America in the Yukon specifically, around 4000 years ago. Horses were re-introduced to the Yukon 150 years ago, with the arrival of Europeans. �
The horses living here today are the same species as the original Ice Age horses, just a different breed. Horses were once one of the most common animals in the Yukon and our current wildies are the best available equines for re-wilding.
The horses live in open woodland environments, which provide trees for shelter and open areas for grazing. The horses prefer lower elevations although some may migrate to alpine areas in the summer, something we have yet to verify. There are a lot of natural mineral licks in the valley as well as forage and water, everything a horse needs to survive. Snowfall is usually not too deep, allowing them to find food throughout the winter. They have evolved to handle extreme cold with ease, as well as the ability to store large amounts of body fat to help them make it through the winter. They are energy conservers, with calm, prosocial temperaments; they waste as little energy as possible, especially over the winter. Domesticated horses originally evolved from hardy arctic ponies who migrated via the Bering land bridge to Eurasia from Alaska and the Yukon. It does not take long for northern wild horses to reclaim their heritage. As long as the snow is not too deep, there are enough open areas for grass to grow, they can survive and even thrive.
The Ibex Valley horses live in scattered bands, each with their own territory with only some overlap. Each band is constantly on the move and ranges over a wide area.
You can support our mission by:
While adoption of wild horses is not currently part of our programs, sponsorship opportunities may be available in the future. Sponsorships would help fund the protection and monitoring of specific herds. Stay tuned for updates on this initiative.
If you encounter a wild horse that appears injured or in danger, please contact us immediately. Provide as much detail as possible, including the location, condition of the horse, and any visible threats.
Also, if you find a deceased horse, please contact us immediately. We need this information for our records, part of learning as much as we can about them.
Yes, collaboration with Indigenous communities is a vital part of our work. We respect and integrate traditional knowledge into our conservation efforts, whenever we can, recognizing the cultural significance of wild horses in these communities.
Donations go directly toward our conservation efforts, including fieldwork, research, education programs, and advocacy. We are committed to transparency and maximizing the impact of every contribution.
Yes! We welcome volunteers who are passionate about wild horses and conservation. Opportunities include field monitoring, event planning, social media support, fund raising, and more. Visit our “Get Involved” page for more details.
You can follow us on social media (FB and Instagram) and sign up for our newsletter to receive updates about our programs, events, and the latest news on Yukon’s wild horses.
Have more questions? Feel free to contact us directly through our “Contact Us” page. We’d love to hear from you!
Receive the latest news from YWH in your Inbox by signing up today.