Mongolia's Wild Horses Reach 160 at Khomiin Tal: Where to See Takhi
Mongolia's wild horses have reached a new milestone: the herd of takhi (Przewalski's horses) at Khomiin Tal National Park in Zavkhan aimag has grown to about 160, from 22 horses flown in from France in 2004 and 2005. Montsame reported the figure on 15 October 2026, after the French ambassador visited the park. For travellers, the easiest place to see takhi in the wild is still Hustai National Park, about two hours' drive from Ulaanbaatar.
Key facts
What: Takhi (Przewalski's horse) herd at Khomiin Tal reaches about 160
Where: Khomiin Tal National Park, Durvuljin soum, Zavkhan aimag, western Mongolia
Started: 22 horses brought from France by the TAKH association in 2004 and 2005
Reported: 15 October 2026, after the French ambassador's visit
Status: Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2011
Easiest place to see takhi: Hustai National Park, about 2 hours from Ulaanbaatar; 380 takhi (park website, read 16 Oct 2026)
Source: Montsame, IUCN, Hustai National Park, read 16 Oct 2026
What is the news about Mongolia's wild horses at Khomiin Tal?
The takhi population at Khomiin Tal National Park now stands at about 160 horses, and they breed naturally in the wild. Montsame reported on 15 October 2026 that the French Ambassador to Mongolia, Corinne Pereira da Silva, visited the park in Durvuljin soum, Zavkhan aimag, to review the reintroduction programme.
The project began when the French association TAKH brought 22 horses from France to Khomiin Tal in 2004 and 2005. According to the Reverse the Red case study of the project, those 22 horses travelled as four harem groups and five bachelor stallions, and the herd had reached 120 by July 2021. A Mongolian NGO, Khomyn Talin Takhi, has managed the population since 2017, and the area became Khomiin Tal National Park in May 2020.
Why are takhi so important?
The takhi once vanished from the wild completely. The IUCN records that the species was extinct in the wild by the 1960s, was reclassified as Critically Endangered in 2008 and as Endangered in 2011, as reintroduced herds grew in Mongolia.
National Geographic notes that every living Przewalski's horse descends from roughly a dozen animals captured before the species disappeared from the wild, and that around 2,000 exist today. The horses are stocky and caramel-coloured.
In Mongolian the horse is called takhi, and it has a special place in a country where horses are part of daily life. Mongolia now has three reintroduction sites: Hustai National Park, the Great Gobi "B" Strictly Protected Area and Khomiin Tal, according to Montsame and the IUCN.
Is Khomiin Tal a UNESCO biosphere reserve?
Yes. Khomiin Tal was added to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2025, and UNESCO lists it at 618,379 hectares, according to Montsame. Wanderlust reported the designation among the new biosphere reserves named in September 2025.
The recovery helps more than horses. The Reverse the Red case study reports that wild sea-buckthorn forest along the Zavkhan River grew from 100 to 1,000 hectares by 2020 as grazing pressure fell, and that numbers of saiga, Mongolian gazelle and Siberian ibex rose in the area.
Where can travellers see takhi in Mongolia?
Hustai National Park is the most accessible place to see wild takhi, about two hours' drive from Ulaanbaatar to the main entrance in the north, according to the Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski Horse, which helped start the project. The first 16 horses arrived from the Netherlands on 5 June 1992.
The Hustai National Park website (read 16 October 2026) gives a population of 380 takhi, including 34 breeding harems, across more than 50,000 hectares. The park is run by the Hustai National Park Trust, a non-profit organisation, and its information centre has a small exhibition on the takhi and a souvenir shop.
Khomiin Tal is a much bigger trip. It lies in Zavkhan aimag in western Mongolia, bordered by the Zavkhan River, and suits travellers already heading west. We plan it only as part of a longer western route.
What this means for your trip
Short on time? Our 1 Day Khustai National Park Tour goes from Ulaanbaatar and back in a day.
Keen photographer? The Mongolia Photo Tours (3 days) add Khugnu Khan and the Elsen Tasarkhai dunes to Hustai.
Start at the information centre. Ask there where the horses are grazing that day before you drive out.
Keep your distance. Takhi are wild animals, so stay with your guide and use a telephoto lens rather than walking close.
Combine it. Hustai sits on the road west, so it pairs well with Kharkhorum; see our post on the New Kharkhorum city plans.
Planning from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong or Japan?
Citizens of Singapore, Malaysia and Japan can visit Mongolia without a visa for up to 30 days, and Hong Kong SAR passport holders for up to 14 days, according to the Consular Department of Mongolia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (read 16 October 2026). A day at Hustai fits easily into a four- to seven-day city-and-countryside trip; our Japan to Mongolia travel guide covers flights and planning.
How Enza Tours can help
We run day trips to Hustai National Park from Ulaanbaatar and can build takhi viewing into longer routes through central and western Mongolia. We arrange the vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide. Tell us your dates and we will suggest a plan.
Frequently asked questions
How many wild horses are there at Khomiin Tal in 2026?
About 160 takhi (Przewalski's horses) live at Khomiin Tal National Park in Zavkhan aimag, Mongolia, according to Montsame on 15 October 2026. The herd grew from 22 horses brought from France in 2004 and 2005.
Where is the best place to see Przewalski's horses in Mongolia?
Hustai National Park, about two hours' drive from Ulaanbaatar, is the easiest place to see wild Przewalski's horses in Mongolia. Its website gives a population of 380 takhi (read 16 October 2026).
Are Przewalski's horses endangered?
Yes. The IUCN lists the Przewalski's horse (takhi) as Endangered, a status it has held since 2011 after reintroductions in Mongolia. The species had been extinct in the wild by the 1960s.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia from Singapore to see the wild horses?
No. Singapore citizens can visit Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days, according to Mongolia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department (read 16 October 2026). That is enough for a day trip to Hustai National Park and a longer tour.
Tours that fit this story
Hand-picked from our current programmes. See all of them on our Mongolia tours page.
1 Day Khustai National Park Tour: Przewalski's wild horses on open grassland near Ulaanbaatar.
Mongolia Photo Tours (3 days): Khustai, Khugnu Khan and the Elsen Tasarkhai dunes.
Altai Tavan Bogd 10-Day Experience: Khovd, the western lakes, Altai Tavan Bogd NP and Uvs Lake.
Sources
IUCN: From extinction to free-ranging, a successful reintroduction (26 Mar 2018)
Reverse the Red: Towards restoration of the Przewalski horse in western Mongolia (2021)
Wanderlust: UNESCO's new biosphere reserves 2025 (29 Sep 2025)
Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski Horse: Hustai tourism
Mongolia MFA Consular Department: visa-exempt countries (read 16 Oct 2026)
About this article
Written by the Enza Tours News Desk in Ulaanbaatar and checked by our team before publishing. Every date, number and rule in this post comes from the sources listed above, which we read on 16 October 2026. Last updated: 16 October 2026.
About Enza Tours LLC. We are a Mongolian inbound tour operator, founded in 2018 by Enkhzaya (Enza), and a member of the Mongolia Tourism Organization (MTO) and the Mongolian Tourism Association (MTA). Office: Room 39, Building 33, 4th Khoroo, Baga Toiruu Street, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar 15141, Mongolia. Phone +976 8911 2100 · info@mongoliantour.guide · Meet our team · Contact us
