Pentro horse
Encyclopedia
The Pentro Horse is a breed of horse originating in the area of Isernia
, in the Molise
region of Italy
. It is one of the fifteen indigenous horse "breeds of limited distribution" recognised by the AIA, the Italian breeders' association. It takes its name from the ancient Samnite
tribe of the Pentri
. Like many Italian breeds the Pentro is raised in the open pasture year-round, where it has to fend off wolves, which have returned to the Italian countryside in considerable numbers. Its population is an autochthonous breed from a breeding area characterized by climatic and geographic peculiarities. The horse population is interesting because of its rusticity, however, has run the risk of losing its identity because of the introduction of exotic genetic material.
Pentro horse is bred in Southern Italy for the production of meat and is currently facing extinction. At the present time, this horse is not included, in any conservation program even though it is an important element of the history and traditions of the land in which it lives; it characterises, in a unique fashion, the landscape in which it is reared in a wild state.
Isernia
Isernia Isernia Isernia (Latin: Aesernia or, in Pliny and later writers, Eserninus, or in the Antonine Itinerary, Serni is a town and comune in the central Italian region of Molise, and the capital of Isernia province.- Geography :...
, in the Molise
Molise
Molise is a region of Southern Italy, the second smallest of the regions. It was formerly part of the region of Abruzzi e Molise and now a separate entity...
region of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is one of the fifteen indigenous horse "breeds of limited distribution" recognised by the AIA, the Italian breeders' association. It takes its name from the ancient Samnite
Samnite
Samnite is an adjective meaning "having to do with ancient Samnium."Samnite can also mean* Samnites, the people of ancient Samnium* Samnite , a gladiator who fought with the equipment and in the manner of a Samnite soldier...
tribe of the Pentri
Pentri
The Pentri were a tribe of the Samnites, and apparently one of the most important of the subdivisions of that nation. Their capital city was Bovianum Undecumanorum The Pentri (Greek: ) were a tribe of the Samnites, and apparently one of the most important of the subdivisions of that nation. Their...
. Like many Italian breeds the Pentro is raised in the open pasture year-round, where it has to fend off wolves, which have returned to the Italian countryside in considerable numbers. Its population is an autochthonous breed from a breeding area characterized by climatic and geographic peculiarities. The horse population is interesting because of its rusticity, however, has run the risk of losing its identity because of the introduction of exotic genetic material.
Pentro horse is bred in Southern Italy for the production of meat and is currently facing extinction. At the present time, this horse is not included, in any conservation program even though it is an important element of the history and traditions of the land in which it lives; it characterises, in a unique fashion, the landscape in which it is reared in a wild state.