Zorses, which are the hybrid offspring of a zebra and a horse, have been known for centuries, but their deliberate breeding began in the 19th century.
The first documented attempts at breeding zebras with horses started in the early 1800s. The goal was often to create an animal that combined the zebra’s resistance to disease (like sleeping sickness) with the horse’s strength and utility. However, zorses have historically been rare due to the difficulty of breeding zebras and horses, which are different species.
While zorses have been created in captivity for around 200 years, they are still relatively uncommon and typically bred for novelty, research, or in some cases for specific working purposes like pulling carts or as circus animals. Their unique appearance (a horse’s body with zebra-like stripes) has also contributed to their fascination in both scientific and public interest.