In the swamp of the Camargue, white horses stand up to their ankles in water, their manes full of wind. The Gardians, the region's mounted shepherds, drive their cattle with them. The horses are small but tough, and they live life almost without a stable.
| Type | Robust riding horse, small horse |
|---|---|
| Origin | Rhône Delta in southern France |
| Breeding association in Germany | Branch book at the Rheinisches Pferdestammbuch e.V.; Stud book of origin at the Association des Eleveurs de Chevaux de Race Camargue (AECRC), Arles |
| Stand size according to standard | 135 to 150 cm |
| Weight according to standard | 300 to 400 kg |
| Colors | always mold; Foals are born dark or spiky-haired and lighten |
| Usage | Trail and endurance riding, tournament sports, driving, vaulting, working on cattle in France |
Origin and history
The history of the Camargue horse is closely linked to the Gardians, the mounted shepherds who herd cattle in the Rhône Delta (Mad Barn). It was officially recognized as a separate breed by the French state in 1978. The studbook is kept by the AECRC in Arles. Their standard dictates that the horses be bred extensively and reproduce in complete freedom; Their food should primarily be open-air pasture in order to maintain the robustness of the breed.
The stud book is closed and pure breeding is used. In Germany, the Rhenish Horse Stud Book maintains a branch stud book, at the beginning of 2024 with 8 mares and 9 stallions.
Exterior
The standard requires a well-set, usually square head with a flat forehead, a straight profile and short, widely spaced ears. The mane is lush, sometimes double. The chest and shoulders are strong, the back is medium long, the limbs are strong with wide joints and a very secure, large hoof. When fully grown, a Camargue horse measures 135 to 150 cm and weighs 300 to 400 kg.
Camargue horses are always gray. At birth they are brown or spiky-haired and become white over the years, sometimes with fly mold. The Rhenish Horse Stud Book expressly calls them late developers.
Character (interior)
According to the standard, the Camargue horse is left alone, but becomes lively and agile under the rider. It is considered frugal, handy, courageous and very persistent. The breeding program calls it tough, agile and eager to learn. Because the standard requires rearing in a free herd, young Camargues from France often had little contact with people. Plan time for halter handling, hooping and loading.
Keeping and feeding
The standard describes a horse that can tolerate long dry spells and bad weather and stays in top condition on simple, meager feed. This is exactly what becomes a trap in German private stables: less exercise and rich feed quickly lead to obesity, which is linked to equine metabolic syndrome (Mad Barn, University of Kentucky). An open stable or paddock trail with a herd, rationed hay and limited grazing time is best, especially in spring and fall. Mauke is a threat on constantly wet ground; a dry berth is mandatory.
Health
According to Mad Barn, hereditary diseases typical of the breed are not documented in the Camargue horse. A French genetics study cited by Mad Barn found little common ancestry with other breeds, making many common genetic defects unlikely. The downside of the closed studbook is the risk of inbreeding, which breeders should be careful of.
In private ownership, obesity and laminitis are the biggest risks. A clumsy gait, warm hooves or a relief posture with the front legs placed forward are an emergency for the veterinary practice.
Who is the Camargue horse suitable for?
For hiking and endurance riders who are looking for a sure-footed, enduring horse, for people with experience in robust husbandry and for everyone who has patience with a late developer.
Who is it not for?
For beginner riders who want to take on a young, poorly handled horse from a herd. And for stables with pure box keeping and lush pasture.
Furthermore: You can calculate how much a horse actually costs per month using the Horse Cost Calculator. Before you buy, the horse buying checklist will help you. You can find ideas for the stable name in our horse names, and your own horse is available as a horse portrait from your own photo. All breeds at a glance: Horse breeds from A to Z.
Frequently asked questions
How tall does a Camargue horse get? The breed standard states 1.35 to 1.50 m height at the withers and 300 to 400 kg weight.
Why are Camargue horses white? They are all gray. Foals are born dark or spiky-haired and turn white over the years.
Is the Camargue horse a pony? With up to 150 cm, it is partly above the pony limit of 148 cm (FN) and is classified as a small horse.
What is a Camargue horse suitable for? For hiking and endurance riding, tournament and driving sports as well as vaulting, according to the breeding program.
Read more
Quellen, abgerufen am 05.11.2026: Rheinisches Pferdestammbuch e.V.: Zuchtprogramm Camargue mit Rassestandard der AECRC (Stand 02/2025); Mad Barn: Camargue Horse Breed Profile; FN: FAQ zum FEI-Ponymessen, Stand 2026; University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension: Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Is My Horse Just Fat or Is He Sick? (Adams, Camargo, ID-239).
