Nowhere is the history of humans and horses more closely intertwined than in nomadic societies, with the Arabian breed being perhaps the most widely known example. Developed by the desert-dwelling Bedouins, these horses were bred for centuries specifically for the characteristics needed to survive under the harsh conditions of the Bedouins’ roaming lifestyle. Although less familiar to the general horse world, the Irish Tinker was developed by the itinerant gypsies of Ireland in response to a very different but equally demanding climate and lifestyle.

Like the Bedouins, the Irish Travelers, as the gypsies are properly called these days, needed a thrifty horse to accommodate their nomadic way of life. But where the Bedouins also had camels at their disposal, the Travelers depended solely on their horses for all transportation. As a result, they developed a unique animal, strong and sturdy enough to pull a 2,500 lb. Gypsy caravan all day through the rolling Irish countryside, yet calm and docile enough for the children to play with and ride once a campsite was reached.