The straight Egyptian Arabian horse

The straight Egyptian Arabians are still the original Arabian. They are the largest remaining breeding group of "Asil Arabians" and trace every line back to the desert-bred horses of Arabia.

Morafic (Nazeer x Mabrouka)

Today, the Egyptian Arabian horse is recognized as a cultural heritage of Egypt, preserving the legacy of the original desert-bred Arabian horse. The Egyptian Agricultural Organization (EAO), the Egyptian state stud, is widely regarded as one of the purest sources of Asil Arabian bloodlines worldwide.

Egyptian nobility played a crucial role in preserving these bloodlines. Through close relationships with Bedouin tribes, they acquired the finest desert-bred horses. These horses were not only bred with care but also raced in Alexandria and Cairo, following strict inspections to verify their purity and authenticity.

The modern history of the Egyptian Arabian begins in the 19th century with Mohamed Ali Pasha, at a time when Egypt was part of the Ottoman Empire. He was deeply passionate about collecting superior desert-bred horses and built magnificent stables to house them. After his campaign in Nejd, he secured some of the most valuable mares from the House of Saud as part of a peace agreement, significantly strengthening his already exceptional herd.

His grandson, Abbas Pasha, inherited this remarkable collection and took the preservation of purity even further. He meticulously documented each horse’s lineage and expanded the herd with additional desert-bred horses. Through diplomacy and strategic alliances, he enhanced the breeding program even more. One notable event was the release of Feysul Ibn Saud, which was repaid with 290 desert-bred mares and a distinguished group of stallions.

After Abbas Pasha’s assassination in 1854, his legendary stud was dispersed. Some horses were acquired by European breeders, while others remained in Egypt under the care of Ali Pasha Sherif, another passionate breeder of desert-bred Arabians. Among those who recognized the importance of these bloodlines was Lady Anne Blunt, whose journeys in search of authentic desert horses became legendary and helped preserve these lines internationally.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Egyptian royalty continued the tradition of collecting and breeding the finest desert horses. Horse racing became immensely popular, and cities such as Alexandria and Cairo became key centers where American, European, and North African breeders could acquire outstanding Arabian horses.

In 1908, the Royal Agricultural Society (R.A.S.) was established alongside private stud farms to protect what was considered a national treasure. Following the overthrow of King Farouk in 1952, several important horses from the royal Inshass Stud were transferred to the R.A.S., which was later renamed the Egyptian Agricultural Organization (E.A.O.).

Although Straight Egyptians are not necessarily better performers than other pure bred Arabians, they remain an essential source for preserving and renewing the original characteristics of the breed. International state studs such as Tersk in Russia, Bábolna in Hungary, and Janów Podlaski and Michałów in Poland have long incorporated Egyptian stallions into their breeding programs to refine and strengthen their lines.

Straight Egyptian Arabian horses are prized for the exceptional toughness, speed, and beauty inherited from their desert-bred ancestors. These qualities continue to stand out and remain highly valued in today’s equine world.