Vietnam’s Horse Sector: A Comprehensive Review of History, Production Systems, Health Challenges, and Research Priorities

Horses in Vietnam have a long historical presence and continue to hold economic, socio-cultural, and medicinal importance across diverse regions. Despite these roles, comprehensive scientific information on equine development, including health and disease patterns, reproductive performance, genetic resources, and biomedical applications, remains limited and fragmented. In this review, we summarize existing knowledge on equine populations, production systems, and their development in Vietnam, as well as their roles in cultural practices, livelihoods, and traditional medicine. We then identify major gaps in surveillance, genetic characterization, and coordinated research capacity by synthesizing evidence from breeding, health, reproduction, and emerging research areas. Finally, we highlight where current efforts fall short and outline key priorities for future work to strengthen equine science, support culturally relevant practices, and guide the sustainable development of Vietnam’s horse sector. Overall, the synthesis information shows (i) native Vietnamese horses belong to the Southeast Asian pony complex and include at least four recognized populations; (ii) the northern mountain provinces account for the substantial majority of the national herd; (iii) strongyle infections, Trypanosomiasis, haemorrhagic septicaemia and the recently confirmed equine piroplasmosis are the principal health challenges; and (iv) genetic characterization, reproductive management, welfare assessment, and capacity building are the four most critical research priorities identified. This information is important for prioritizing future research and conservation activities and enhancing the development of Vietnam’s horse population.