Emerging re-emerging viral infections of equines: a challenge in the foothills of the Himalayas

The horse family (Equidae) comprises horses (Equus cabalus), donkeys (Equus asinus), and zebras (Equus zebra). Mules are not a distinct species but a cross between a female horse and a male donkey. Mule bears the body of a horse and the extremities of a donkey. As per the 20th livestock census 2019, India possesses a population of 0.55 million horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules; of this population, Uttarakhand holds the highest population of mules (0.26 lakhs). While other states of the country, like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have seen a steep decline from -12.44 to -63.61% in mule population, Uttarakhand observed only a -02.25% change. Mules are used to provide logistics support, carry men and luggage in rugged hilly terrains where vehicles cannot reach due to their surefootedness and lower feed requirements.