the chaar horse

A spotted mountain horse of Kyrgyzstan, back from the edge

The Chaar is a native spotted horse, shaped by the land, the weather and the people who rode alongside it for generations. It survived on its own, with no breeding programme and no registry behind it, until it nearly disappeared.

Today the herd at Chaar Ranch is growing again, with new foals every spring, and a plan to bring the breed back to a size that can look after itself.

80+horses in the herd
2012the year the revival began
500horses needed for the breed to be recognised
A Kyrgyz rider in traditional red dress on the spotted stallion Chaar Suluu, above a mountain lake
Meet the Chaar horse Support the herd

the association

A nonprofit protecting the Chaar horse and the culture around it

Munarbek Kuldanbaev beside a spotted stallion by a river

Our story

Who we are, and how the association began.

 A Kyrgyz horseman driving the Chaar herd across the high pasture

Chaar Ranch

Where the herd lives, and who looks after it.

 The Chaar herd grazing on a high pass below a glacier

Genetic analysis

What the DNA results say about the breed.

the film

True Appaloosa, the film that started it all

Directed and produced by Conor Woodman, co-produced by Munarbek Kuldanbaev, and also released as The Secret Horse: Quest for the True Appaloosa. It follows Woodman, Appaloosa breeder Scott Engstrom and Kyrgyz breeder Munarbek Kuldanbaev into the mountains of Kyrgyzstan.

The question they set out to answer: are Central Asia's spotted Chaar horses related to the American Appaloosa, the horse of the Nez Perce? It is still an open question. What the journey did was bring Munarbek to Chaar Suluu, and start everything that followed.

Watch the film

Also on Prime Video, with subtitles in several languages.

Chaar Suluu, the spotted stallion at the heart of the film True Appaloosa

spotted stories

News and updates

Foal news from the mountains, stories of nomadic culture, and dispatches from the ranch. Read the latest

The Chaar Appaloosa painting by Alice Shirley

7 november

Alice Shirley's Chaar Appaloosa sells for a dizzying price

A week-long auction on Instagram, a painting inspired by petroglyphs, and the proceeds going straight to the herd.

 Léon Mitouard with the Chaar herd in winter

12 january

From France to the Kyrgyz steppes: Léon's winter with the herd

A recent graduate swapped a gap-year beach trip for a winter looking after the horses.

 Munarbek Kuldanbaev with the stallion Chaar Suluu

28 february

Munarbek on Chaar Suluu, the stallion who started it

The founder on the horse behind the whole project, and the breeding programme built to save the breed.

4 to 14 july 2027

Join the 2027 Chaar Expedition

Riders heading up a mountain valley towards snow-capped peaks

Once a year we ride up into the high summer pastures to find the herds where they roam. Eleven days, a small group of 9 to 12 riders, and a part of nomadic life that's still going on.

See the expedition Other ways to visit

support

Four ways to keep the herd going

Donate once

A single gift, any amount, straight to the programme.

Give monthly

Steady support the ranch can plan a season around.

Own a foal

Back a foal in the accelerated breeding programme.

Come and see

Join a trip, or volunteer your time and skills.
A leopard-spotted Chaar foal beside its mother

French residents can deduct 66% of a donation from their taxes. You can also help by buying something from the shop.