The successors of Eohippus went on to Asia and Europe. However, after millions of years they also became extinct. Only the American descendant survived and crossed the Bering Strait again to reproduce in Asia and Europe. It is this branch which gave birth to the several breeds known to men and with which they have been forever associated within ancient Asian and European cultures.

In North and South America, in contrast, the horse became extinct as a result of the intensity of hunting during the Paleo-Indian period, 8,000 years ago. This fact resulted in the different cultures from Alaska down to Tierra del Fuego lacking any records of the existence of the horse on this continent, explaining the huge novelty for them in the early days of contact with the Spanish conquistadores.

Charles Darwin, the great English naturalist, was the first scientist to realize that the horse had lived on this continent. He was led to this conclusion by the remains of an Equus Curivdens found in Punta Alta, Argentina, in 1832, whilst he was traveling on the Beagle. "Indeed —Darwin wrote— this is a marvellous event in the history of animals, that a native species had disappeared to be succeeded in later epochs by several herds introduced by Spanish colonizers".

From Darwin's day to the present, several bone fragments have been found with some frequency in different areas of Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. One example, in Chile was discovered in the Tagua Tagua Lake, mixed with mastodont's which is being exhibited at the Colchagua Museum in Santa Cruz.

The Spanish horse which arrived in Chile, through crossed breeding and its adaptation to the local environment, especially themountainous Andean terrain, has produced a breed known as the "Chilean Horse" or Caballo chileno, a smaller horse with great stamina, strong of chest and with extraordinary hoof control over any ground.

Our star product is the Darwin Route over the Andes. A six day program following the itinerary of Darwin and enjoying hot springs, spectacular sights of the Andes; great barbeques and red wines accompanied by condors and guanacos during the day and by the many stars and particularly the Southern Cross during the night.

Around Santiago and throughout the rest of Chilean territory we offer days of horseback riding in beautiful surroundings with good quality horses equipped with Chilean saddles.

• Wine
• Horse breeding
• Trekking
• Fly fishing