The Przewalski's horse, or takhi, was first described in 1881 by Polish naturalist Nikolai Prjevalski, who gave it its current name.

The takhi, whose name means "to sacrifice, to respect", has a compact build. It stands between 1.20 metres and 1.35 metres at the withers and weighs between 250 and 350 kg. Compared to domestic horses, its head is squarer and broader, with less prominent cheekbones. Its mane resembles a brush, its coat colour ranges from brown to ochre, with white markings around the eyes and nostrils, and distinctive black stripes on its legs.

It possesses 66 chromosomes rather than the 64 found in domestic horses. It is exceptionally fast and remarkably resilient.

The takhi was already a rare species, hunted by Mongols for its meat.

This horse species, endemic to Mongolie, vanished in the 1960s following intensive hunting campaigns organised by Russians. Believing the species extinct, they were surprised to discover herds in Mongolie and decided to capture foals to send to European zoos. Tragically, in doing so, they annihilated the remaining wild population. The last herd was sighted in 1967, the last individual in 1969.

The "Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of Przewalski's Horse," established in the Netherlands in 1977, and the governor of Khustaïn Nuruu collaborated on reintroducing takhi beginning with a breeding stock of 12 horses in captivity. The first sixteen horses, coming from Russia and the Netherlands, arrived at Khustaï park on 6 June 1992. The following year, the first foal was born in the reserve. From the second generation onward, the horses gradually readapted to life in the wild after years in zoo captivity. Over a ten-year period, shipments were organised every two years, importing a total of 84 animals to Mongolie. This measured approach allowed them to adjust to the climate and establish organised family groups. Their full release into the wild could only take place once this critical foundation was secured.

Today, the Takhi population exceeds 2,000 individuals.

Observing Przewalski's horses is remarkably accessible in Khustaï park. They descend from the park's mountains to drink at waterways easily accessible to visitors, particularly at dawn and dusk. Here you'll have ample opportunity to observe them in their natural habitat.