The Miyako (Japanese:宮古馬, Miyako uma) is a Japanese breed of small horse originating on Miyako Island, in the Ryukyu Islands in the southern part of Okinawa Prefecture, in south-western Japan. In the twenty-first century it is an endangered breed: total numbers have not been recorded at over forty head since records began in 1977.

History

The Miyako is a traditional breed of Miyako Island, in the Ryukyu Islands in the southern part of Okinawa Prefecture, in south-western Japan. It was formerly a small horse, with a height at the withers of some 120–122cm. In the mid-twentieth century it was cross-bred with larger horses of foreign origin, leading to in increase in height to about 142cm.