Mongolia is a nation of horsemen. In the 13th century its cavalry, led by Genghis Khan, conquered huge chunks of Asia and Europe.
Mongolia is leading efforts to rewild the Przewalski's horse, known to Mongolians as the takhi—the world's last truly "wild" horse, which has never been tamed. Genetically these animals are far removed from common horses (they have additional chromosomes). The species was unknown to Western horse-fanciers until the late 19th century, when Nikolai Przewalski, a Russian explorer, brought home proof of life. Hunters subsequently trapped foals on demand for foreign collectors, often killing the parents. Habitat loss and climate shocks thinned the herd further; by the late 1960s there were none left in the wild.
Captive-breeding efforts, which at one point saw numbers dwindle to only about 30 animals, have raised the global population to an estimated 2,000-2,500. Three reserves in Mongolia host around 800 of them. Hustai National Park, near the capital Ulaanbaatar, is home to about 350—the biggest population in one place in the world. Kazakhstan released six zoo-bred horses in June 2025; China has reserves for them as well.
If you look good and dress well, you don't need a purpose in life.