Wild?? Wild horses are not native to the Americas (post ice age), and even though they are free roaming, are considered feral animals (domestic animals that have turned wild). Before the ice age, horses roamed North America in great numbers, so their introduction was actually a re-introduction. Some American Indians claim it was passed down through their heritage, that horses roamed the plains of western United States before the explorers arrived. This is highly unlikely because no fossil evidence has been found to suggest that horses were present at the time of the discovery of America in 1492.

By the early 1700's millions of "wild" horses roamed western North America, most likely descended from Arabian horses that Spanish conquistadors brought to explore the Americas in the early 1500s. The Spanish horse was small and hearty as it had to survive long sea voyages, in the holds of tall ships with little exercise and stale feed, to make it to the Americas.

The word "Mustang" comes from the Spanish word, mesteno, meaning "wild or untamed" horse. Descended from barbs of Morocco, sorraia from Portugal and andalusians from Spain, this term loosely describes all wild horses in the United States. Many of these animals were abandoned by the Spanish, or wandered off to join other wild herds. Their strength was the ability adapt and thrive to a variety of habitats; scrub brush, rocky hills, and grassy plains.

The herds flourished as they were constantly stocked with fresh additions from runaways and abandoned horses. These horses later mated with other breeds left behind by English and French explorers, trappers, miners and cattlemen. In addition many farmers abandoned their horses during the Great Depression. All these factors added to the gene pool of the western wild horse. True mustangs are horses that have the characteristics and alleged lineage to the original Spanish mestenos. These specific horses are considered rare today.

The Ford Mustang was named after a "wild" horse, that roamed the Western North American continent, known for its strength, sturdiness & speed. It is an appropriate name for an automobile that was designed and capable of creating a whole new category of personal transportation, the Ford Mustang! A car that has endured for over forty years.