How Many Horses Are There? (US & Worldwide Statistics in 2023)

 

Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.

Horses are important parts of society. While most people don’t own horses, these graceful creatures are part of a prominent industry with significant economic impacts. There are around 7.2 million horses in the U.S. alone. If you’re curious about how much of an impact they have on the world, you’ve come to the right place! We outline statistics and answer your questions about how many horses there are, where they’re located, and how they’re used.

Click to Skip Ahead:

• The Top 4 US Horse Population Statistics
• The Top 2 Breed Specific Statistics
• The Top 4 Worldwide Horse Population Statistics

The Top 10 Horse Statistics

1. The U.S. horse population is estimated to be over 7.2 million horses.
2. The wild horse population is estimated to be around 600,000.
3. Texas has the highest horse population, with approximately 767,100 horses.
4. There are 90,000 wild horses in the U.S., living across 10 western states.
5. There are approximately 350 recognized horse breeds.
6. Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses are the most popular U.S. horse breeds.
7. The United Kingdom equestrian industry is responsible for over $11 billion a year in economic contributions.
8. The United Kingdom is home to approximately 400,000 horses.
9. Romania has the highest horse population in the European Union, with a population of around 447,000.
10. The island of Grenada is home to approximately 30 horses.

You’re welcome to use our images, but we require you link directly to this site for credit (ex. Image from Pet Keen)

The Top 4 US Horse Population Statistics

Image Credit: Trevor G Johnson, Shutterstock

1.The U.S. horse population is estimated to be over 7.2 million horses.

(Data Paddock)

These numbers are from 2016 because they are based on periodic farm surveys, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture only conducts a census every 5 years. While there was one conducted in 2021, those results are not yet available. The American Horse Council Foundation estimates the current number to be closer to 9.2 million.

There are approximately 2 million horse owners and a total of 7.1 million Americans involved in the horse industry

---

2.The wild horse population is estimated to be around 600,000.

(Spayvac)

It’s important to note that there is no global consensus on the exact number of wild horses. There are only published estimates, and they may not all be accurate. Some countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia publish annual data regarding their wild horse populations. Many European countries only publish data every few years, so the most recent numbers are estimated between 2015 and 2018.

While we can’t vouch for the current accuracy of the data, here is the breakdown, which gives a rough idea of the distribution of wild horses around the globe:

• USA — approximately 90,000
• Canada — approximately 2,000
• Australia — approximately 400,000
• Europe — approximately 4,000
• Argentina — approximately 5,000

The rapidly growing wild horse population has a significant environmental impact on sensitive ecosystems. The U.S. and Australia have both developed programs aimed at population control — in some cases, resorting to culling the herds. Most government agencies agree that if possible, euthanasia should be avoided as a means of population control. Many wild horses have been removed from rangelands and relocated to farms, but the cost of these re-location efforts is extensive.

---

3.Texas has the highest horse population, with approximately 767,100 horses.

(American Horse Council)

California follows in second place with about 534,500 horses, and Florida comes in third with 387,100 horses. Fourth place is occupied by the state of Oklahoma, with 326,000 horses.

---

4.There are 90,000 wild horses in the U.S., living across 10 western states.

(U.S. Department of the Interior, Smithsonian Magazine)

The Bureau of Land Management of the U.S. Department of the Interior conducts annual population inventories to estimate the number of wild horses and burros. These animals roam across 53.8 million acres of public land, 42.4 acres of which are under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management. These areas are further divided into subsets called Herd Management Areas. The 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act ensures that these animals cannot be relocated to lands where they are not free-roaming.