02/06/2026
Martinez
France
The Camargue, French: Camarguais or Cheval de Camargue; Occitan: Caval de Camarga, is a traditional French breed of working horse indigenous to the Camarguearea in southern France. Its origins are unknown. For centuries, possibly thousands of years, small horses have lived wild in the harsh environment of the Camargue marshes and wetlands of the Rhône delta, which covers part of the départements of Gard and Bouches-du-Rhône. There they developed the stamina, hardiness and agility for which they are known today. Traditionally, they live in semi-feral conditions in the marshy land of the region. The Camargue horse is the traditional mount of the gardians, the Camargue riders who herd the black Camargue bulls used for courses camarguaises in southern France.
Some researchers believe the Camargue are descended from the Solutré horse hypothesised from archeologicalremains found in Burgundy. The Camargue horses were appreciated by the Celtic and Roman invaders who entered the Iberian Peninsula. Their genealogy is closely tied with Iberian horses, especially those of the northern part of the peninsula.
