Breeding of the Taishu, an ancient breed of horse that originated on Tsushima, a remote island in southwestern Japan, is gradually progressing under a program to preserve the endangered equine.

The Taishu is one of eight horse breeds designated as indigenous in Japan by the Japan Equine Affairs Association, and many of them are on the brink of extinction.

In addition to the Taishu, the other indigenous Japanese breeds are the Kiso from Nagano, the Noma from Ehime, the Misaki from Miyazaki and the Miyako from Okinawa.