Together, let's protect Icelandic horses from infectious diseases

In 1882, Icelanders passed a law prohibiting the importation of horses into Iceland. It is however believed that very few, if any, horses were imported to the country after the 13th century, when Icelanders stopped sailing abroad. This isolation of close to a millennium has led to Icelandic horses having a unique genetic heritage as well as the great characteristics we know today.

However, this also means that Iceland is in a unique situation in the world where diseases such as strangles, equine influenza, equine herpes virus type 1, and many other serious illnesses have never reached the country.

It is crucial to use to protect our horse population and keep it healthy and we kindly ask that anyone going to Iceland reads the poster below.

If you have any doubt or question, please send an email to horseoficeland[at]horsesoficeland.is and we will get back to you.

Here is a downloadable version of the poster

: you can share it on your webpage, social media platforms or even print it out and hang it anywhere you think it might be useful.