Few people know that an independent population of domestic horses that became wild again lives on Kunashir Island today. Locals refer to them as mustangs.
Historically, horses were the primary mode of transport throughout Kunashir. However, with the advent of cars, the demand for horses diminished, leading to their abandonment and eventual wildness. Domestic horses in northern Kunashir, which had been left behind in the 1970s following the reduction of settlements and border outposts, returned to a lifestyle reminiscent of their wild relatives, the Przewalski’s horses, and began to graze freely.
Currently, several herds of varying sizes inhabit Kunashir. During the summer months, food is plentiful, while in winter, they dig for grass beneath the snow.
