The wild horses of Aveto have for years been a magnificent reality of Liguria. The protected territory where these equines live – just over three thousand hectares – encompasses three distinct valleys: Val d'Aveto, Val Graveglia and Valle Sturla. The park covers an area that is predominantly along a ridge, following the Ligurian/Tyrrhenian watershed stretching between the municipalities of Santo Stefano d'Aveto, Rezzoaglio, Borzonasca, Mezzanego and Ne, in the hinterland of Chiavari. The areas affected by the presence of the horse herds are precisely Valle Sturla and upper Val Graveglia.

The horses of Aveto are descended from the domestic equines that worked in the valleys for many years. Since the death of their last owner – around 20 to 25 years ago – these horses have lived in the wild, adapting perfectly to the territory that shelters them and breeding freely without any contact with humans. The ethology and ecology of these herds are comparable to those of American wild horses or those of Mongolia, and in Italy they represent a unique and precious naturalistic resource, both for the study of animals in the wild and for their relationship with the environment and habitat conservation.

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The wild horses of Aveto, a resource for the ecosystem

Following the tireless work of ecologists and enthusiasts – foremost among them Paola Marinari and Evelina Isola – to preserve the equine population of the Parco dell'Aveto, good news has arrived for the future of these magnificent free-roaming animals. The wild horses of Aveto have indeed been recognised as a protected rewild population. The Ligurian regional council has approved a motion put forward by councillor Lilli Lauro aimed precisely at recognising these equines as a protected rewild population. It is a measure that those working on the protection and promotion of the Aveto horses have been waiting for for years. In this way, the individuals within the free-roaming herds will be protected and constantly monitored, preventing the dispersal of a precious natural heritage that is a source of pride and an emblem of our ecosystem.

"The horses of Aveto are guardians of the environment and of biodiversity, and through their presence they help prevent reforestation and fires. They deserve attention. I wanted to secure recognition and protection for them, and therefore also the tools to reduce conflicts with rural communities," explained Lilli Lauro. And the victory crowns years of conservation work – often arduous and little recognised – that nonetheless succeeded in safeguarding these horses and their natural environment.