Kaimanawa Legacy Foundation
Kaimanawa Legacy Foundation is a non-profit charity dedicated to preserving and managing the wild herd in the Kaimanawa Ranges, as well as facilitating the successful placement of New Zealand’s excess wild horses through innovative programs and events.
450
An estimated 450 wild horses currently live in the Counted Area of the Kaimanawa Ranges, which makes up the herd population that is managed by the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Advisory Group. This includes horses in the Southern Zones (Upper 14, Zone 15 [including Home Valley], Zone 18 and Zone 19), Argo Valley (Zone 11 and Lower 14) and Zone 20. Of these, 445 are documented in the Kaimanawa Legacy Foundation Database. The population is expected to increase by 26% over the 2025/2026 breeding season, bringing the pre 2026 population to approximately 570 horses. If so, a muster of up to 170 horses is expected.
44
In addition there are another 44 horses documented that live in Zone 9 and the Māori Trust Land, which is outside the Counted Area. These horses aren’t managed and numbers are estimated to be double or triple this size.
EVENTS
2026 SCHEDULE
We have a great line up of competitions for the 2026 Event Calendar. Entries are now open.
DONATE NOW
SUPPORT THE HERD
Your contribution helps us rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome Kaimanawa horses. Every donation supports feed, care, training, and welfare for the horses in our program.
FIELD GUIDE
FIND YOUR HORSE
We are excited to launch the latest edition of the Wild Kaimanawa Field Guide, which has been designed to help the public identify and get to know our nation’s heritage horses at an individual level.
EDUCATION
LEARN ABOUT THE HERD
Learn more about the history of New Zealand’s wild Kaimanawa horses and how they are managed both on and off the range.
What We Do
Our mission is to enrich the lives of Kaimanawa horses both on and off the range by:
Showcasing the value of our nation’s heritage horses through public demonstrations, programs and events.
Fostering and upskilling an ongoing legacy of trainers to meet the needs of the future generations of Kaimanawa horses.
Facilitating the successful placement of New Zealand’s excess wild horses, during the Kaimanawa Horse Musters, through innovative programs and events.
Educating and up-skilling Kaimanawa trainers and owners, to ensure excess horses are tamed using gentle and effective handling techniques.
Maintaining an up-to-date database of all Kaimanawa horses living in the wild, to document the herd’s whānau bands and hauora, to provide support for initiatives such as immunocontraception programmes and musters of Kaimanawa horses from the wild.
Partner with the Herd
EVERY DONATION ADDS UP TO HELP SAVE AN EXTRA HORSE FROM THE MUSTER