Turkmenistan has no official national animal, though the Akhal-Teke is considered an animal of great cultural significance to the people and thus often thought of as an unofficial national animal. This is a Turkmen horse breed famed for its speed and endurance, and is considered one of the oldest extant breeds of horse.
So, though, Turkmenistan does not have an official national animal, no doubt the Akhal-Teke is among the most culturally important animals in the nation.
They embody Turkmen pride in their achievements given that this breed of horse is internationally revered and not just in Turkmenistan.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of Turkmenistan?
Officially, Turkmenistan has no official national animal.
Generally speaking, a national animal is something designated by a government often through a popular vote. In any case, it has official recognition as the national animal.
As of now, Turkmenistan has not recognized any animal as its official national animal, but by many it is unofficially considered to be the Akhal-Teke.
This is a Turkmen breed of horse and among the oldest surviving breeds of horse in the world.
They are well-known for their distinctive shiny coats and this has granted them the nickname “golden horse”.
While there many theories about the origin of the breed, most agree that they were probably descended from the breed known as the Turkoman horse, and some even believe the two breeds at the same.
Pedigrees of these horses, as bred by the historic tribes of Turkmenistan, were kept recorded orally and the horses were used for raiding.
They were eventually subsumed into the Russian Empire after Turkmenistan’s losing war against the neighboring country.
They are medium sized horses, usually standing around 144 to 160cm at the withers, with a weight up to around 500kg.
Their coat colors can vary a great deal, though they are most commonly bay, dun, black and chestnut.
Their coats have a characteristic metallic sheen, as mentioned. They have a refined head with straight or just slightly convex profile, and long ears.
They can be used for a variety of athletic purposes like dressage, show jumping, racing and endurance riding.
Turkmenistan has a specific agency responsible for the breeding training and maintenance of these horses as well as the official registry.
They face a number of potential problems as breeding numbers have decreased and genetic diseases have become a bigger and bigger problem for the nation.
Why is the Akhal-Teke considered the national animal of Turkmenistan?
Again, it’s important to stress that they are not, officially, the national animal of Turkmenistan.
However, they nonetheless hold a great deal of significance to the people of Turkmenistan to just the same extent as any official national animal.
They are seen as embodiments of Turkmen pride and national achievement, as well of course of their history.
The breed was very important to the people of Turkmenistan since long before the official formation of the modern nation state, and so the people of the nation no doubt feel few animals are as important to their national history.
On the other hand, they are more literally seen as embodiments of Turkmen natural beauty.
Again, their place in the history of Turkmenistan means they are very much tied to the country’s physical landscape in a way few other animals are.
They embody the steppes and mountains of Turkmenistan and in this way are seen as very literally representative of the nation.
For many breeders and enthusiasts, though, the question of their preservation is also an important one.
Without specific protections, the breed is in danger of becoming extremely rare and thus breeding will become harder and harder.
Making them the official national animal would bring necessary attention to this fact.
Why are Akhal-Teke horses so shiny?
It obviously has to do with their hair, but specifically with the core of it.
The opaque core of each individual hair is narrower or entirely absent.
Light, then, shines right through it, and is able to refract through its coat.
This gives it the shiny appearance as the light bounces off its whole body and produces the iridescent, shiny effect.
Today, they are of course bred for their shiny coat as much as anything else in some cases, and even simply as show horses, with the right coat, they can bring in a fine price.
How much does an Akhal-Teke cost?
As with any breed there is naturally a great deal of variation between individual costs, and it also depends on where you are.
In the United States, for instance, where they are commonly sold, you might expect the price to range anywhere from $5,000 to $35,000.
In Turkmenistan itself they may sometimes be cheaper but this is never a guarantee and depending on the pedigree they may even be a great deal more expensive.
They are a highly sought after breed and they are also becoming more and more rare, so both of these factors have led to an increase in their overall, average price.
The Akhal-Teke, then, though not Turkmenistan’s official national animal, is no doubt the national animal in the hearts and minds of many of the nation’s people.
They are iconic and visually stunning amongst all breeds of horse, and their strength, endurance, and intelligence has made them popular worldwide.
Perhaps if Turkmenistan one day chooses to officially name a national animal, then they may go with this ready and waiting candidate.