Route des vins

especies • species F rance is renowned for its rich history and culture. Before it evolved into a sophistica- ted icon for art, fashion, and haute cuisine , the French territory was home to abundant natural resources and ancient species, such as the indigenous Camargue horse—probably one of the oldest equine breeds in the world. The first clue to their origins is traced back to the Upper Paleolithic era, more than 1.8 million years ago, where their possible first an- cestor, the Solutré horse, used to be hunted. A few thou- sand years later, they were coveted among the Celtic and Roman invaders during the Second PunicWar due to their impressive hardiness and agility in combat. At the beginning of the Spanish Empire, in the 15th century, the crossbreed between the Celtic pony and the Camargue horse resulted in the Jaca Navarra, which was introduced in the Americas during the Spanish conquest. As a consequence, some traits of the Camargue horse are present in newAmerican horse breeds. The Criollo and the Chilean horse are possible descendants of the Camargue. ThehomeofthismagnificentspeciesistheCamargue region, in southern France, where they live in semi-feral conditions. Theyaregenerallysmall horseswitha straight profile, flat forehead, and wide-set eyes. An impressive characteristic of this species is their beautiful color; they are born with dark skin and a brownish layer of hair that becomes white in adulthood. As a result, sometimes we perceive themas gray.