Discovering the “zebrallo”

The Zebrallo or “Zorse” is the hybrid resulting from the cross between a horse and a zebra, usually a male zebra and a female horse, but crossbreeding between a female zebra and a horse is also possible.

There are also crosses with donkeys from which comes the “Zonkey” or the cross with a pony, the “Zony.”

The first crosses of this type were made by the Boers in the 1800s to obtain a strong, muscular animal to be used mainly for pack and transporting weapons and supplies during the wars with England.

The first to systematically cross zebra and horse for scientific study was Cossar Ewart.

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Hybrids tend to take on the morphology of the horse with the coat color influenced by the inherited striations of the zebra parent, usually particularly evident on the limbs and neck but may also be present on the back and head.

In the case of crossbreeding with dappled horses, the coat will have areas with striped patches and others without stripes.

Like most hybrids, zebras tend to be infertile as this is due to the genetic makeup of the two species, horses in fact have 64 chromosomes while the various zebra species vary between 32 and 46, so most hybrids between the two species are often born with 54 chromosomes.

Zebralli are particularly strong and hardy, and have a more docile disposition than zebras, although they may not be easy to handle and train; however, they can also be trained and used in saddle or light shooting.

They are rustic animals, resistant to some strains of endemic diseases, enjoy excellent health and often reach 30 years of age.