Whole Genome Data Uncover the Complex Origins of Polish Konik Horses
Musiał AD, Ropka-Molik K, Szmatoła T, Podstawski P, Finno CJ, Bieniek A, Wilczyński J, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M.
Abstract
For years, the origins of the Polish Konik horses remained unknown, but it was believed that the breed was a modern descendant of the extinct, wild Tarpan. We evaluated the breed’s origins by sequencing the complete genomes of 12 Polish Konik horses and comparing these sequences with those of other horses, both modern and ancient, using bioinformatic analysis. The results showed that Polish Konik shares similarities with ancient and primitive horse populations, but its genetic background is more complex, reflecting contributions from modern breeds. Therefore, we conclude that Polish Konik horses have a mixed heritage from various horse populations. This discovery does not provide sufficient evidence for the hypothesis of the Polish Konik’s direct origin from the Tarpan but could help guide the breeding and conservation of this special breed. Keywords: Equus caballus, WGS, SNPs, Polish Konik, genetic diversity, horse breeding, Tarpan
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