Genetic analysis of three South African horse breeds

Genetic variability at 7 blood-group and 10 biochemical genetic loci was ex amined in 3 South African horse breeds, the Nooitgedacht, Boerperd and Basu to Pony. Observed heterozygosity for these breeds was intermediate for dome stic horses, with the highest heterozygosity in the Boerperd and the lowest in the Basuto Pony. The 3 breeds show greater genetic similarity to each o ther than to other domestic horse breeds. Compared to other breeds, the Sou th African breeds show greater genetic similarity to breeds such as the Tho roughbred, Holstein, Trakekner and Hanovarian and also to North American br eeds such as the Saddlebred, Standardbred and Morgan Horse.