The **Dülmen wild horse** (or Dülmen pony) is a ancient, semi-feral horse breed native to Germany. A herd of roughly 300 to 400 horses lives freely in the *Merfelder Bruch*, a 350-hectare nature reserve near Dülmen in North Rhine-Westphalia. Key Characteristics & Features * Appearance:*They are small, compact ponies standing around 12 to 13 hands high (122–132 cm). Many exhibit primitive equine markings, such as dun coats with a dark dorsal stripe along their spine. * *Hardiness:** Living outdoors year-round without human intervention, they have evolved strong feet, great endurance, and high resistance to disease. * **The Annual Round-Up:***To prevent overpopulation and territorial fights, the herd is rounded up once a year on the last Saturday of May. Young yearling stallions are caught by hand and auctioned off to become family riding or driving ponies, while the mares remain in the reserve.