Ancient DNA Illuminates the History of Horses in the Americas

Though we tend not to think of colonizers as having hooves, horses played a pivotal part in the colonization of the Americas. In fact, horses helped European conquistadors and colonists carry their things, travel from settlement to settlement and traverse further and further into unfamiliar territories. And yet, in spite of their historical significance, questions continue to surround the colonial history of horses. For instance, where were these horses originally from?