Donkey breeds

Why are donkeys different around the world?

Research suggests that donkeys evolved from the African wild ass in a single domestication event in East Africa around 5000 BCE, where it is thought that humans began to selectively tame and then breed African wild asses for help with transport.

From here donkeys spread around the world through trade and migration and over time groups of donkeys have become associated with specific regions or with certain physical characteristics, reflecting their adaptations to geographic areas and climates, as well as their historical roles within society.

It is important to note that The Donkey Sanctuary does not endorse or encourage the breeding of donkeys or their hybrids (mules and hinnies).

Here we look at some of the different donkey breeds we have in our care as well as some other donkey breeds from around the globe.

Donkey breeds in sanctuary care

Standard Donkeys

The Standard Donkey today typically stands between 90-140 centimetres at the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades and the tallest point of the body).

Unlike their ancestors who tend to have a solid coat colour such as grey or light brown, domesticated donkeys display a wider variety of colours, including grey, brown, black and white, as well as broken colours such as roan, piebald (black and white) and skewbald (brown and white).

Many have the distinctive “cross” marking on their backs and some also have stripes on their legs.

Two donkeys stood together in a field on a sunny day

Miniature Donkeys

Miniature Mediterranean donkeys, or more commonly miniature donkeys, are known for their small stature, typically no more than 91 centimetres at the withers.

Historically, miniature donkeys hail from the islands of Sardinia and Sicily, where they played a significant role turning grinding stones for grain houses. They were also used by shepherds to carry supplies and water from village wells into the mountains.

In more recent years, miniature donkeys have become popular companions, particularly in the United States.

However, despite their size, miniature donkeys should not be considered as low maintenance ‘pets’ and they have the same complex needs as larger donkeys.

Meet Peanut and Maverick

Peanut and Maverick are both big characters at our Sidmouth sanctuary. This inquisitive duo both love playing with enrichment toys, especially those filled with healthy treats.

Miniature donkeys can suffer with dental problems because their mouths are smaller, but they have the same number of teeth as larger donkeys. Therefore, it’s important that their teeth are regularly checked and cared for.

Poitou donkeys

The Poitou donkey originates from the Poitou region of France, about 300 miles south-west of Paris. They are well known for their thick coats which unless well managed can become matted and tangled.

The adult male Poitou is called a Baudet (pronounced ‘bo-day’) and typically stands at 142-152 centimetres, while the Poitou mare is called an ânesse and is usually around 132-142 centimetres.

The history of the Poitou donkey

Historically, the Poitou Baudet was used for producing mules and was highly valued as a vital part of the agricultural economy, which resulted in their export to many regions globally, including America, Russia, Central and North Africa.

However, advancements in machinery led to a steep decline in their popularity and hence led to a steep drop in numbers.

Thanks to global conservation efforts, the population of Poitou donkeys has stabilised and is no longer deemed to be at significant risk.

An image of a large brown donkey with long hair in an outdoor concrete paddock. — Dini the Potiou donkey at our Sidmouth sanctuary.

Meet Dini the Poitou

Dini likes to take life at a slower pace. She needs grooming regularly to keep their coat free of knots.

Poitou donkeys face unique challenges due to their long hair, which requires regular grooming to prevent matting and discomfort. Their care requires attentive management to ensure they remain healthy and comfortable.

Mules and Hinnies

Mules and hinnies are similar. They are both a cross between a horse and a donkey, with unique characteristics that make them special.

What is the difference between a mule and a hinny?

Mules are the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse or pony, while hinnies are the offspring of a female donkey and a male horse or pony. Historically, they were used as riding or pack animals and for agricultural work.

Due to their intelligence and unique characteristics, mules and hinnies can be easily misunderstood. They require specialised care to meet their physical and behavioural needs.

Caring for mules and hinnies

We have produced a resource with information on caring for mules and hinnies which details more about their characteristics and care needs.

An image of a women extending her hand out towards a large brown mule in an outside sand paddock. — Zula with his groom Maya Willis.

Donkey breeds in Europe

Grand Noir du Berry donkey

Hailing from the Berry region of France, the Grand Noir du Berry donkey ranges in height from 135-145 centimetres for males and from 130 centimetres for females.

Unlike many donkeys, they lack the characteristic “cross” marking on their back and have no visible stripes on their legs.

Their muzzles, underbelly and inside their forearms and thighs are white/grey as well as around their eyes. These donkeys can have a bay brown, dark bay brown or black coat.

History of the Grand Noir du Berry donkey

Historically, these donkeys worked in agriculture and transportation, even pulling barges along canals in the 19th century. Today, not only do these donkeys continue to work on small farms, but they are also used in tourism, carrying hikers’ luggage, and in recreation appearing at fairs and shows across France.

The Donkey Sanctuary does not endorse or encourage the use of donkeys or their hybrids in any form of entertainment.

Andalusian Donkey

Andalusian donkeys were bred in the region of the Guadalquivir River in southern Spain. They were used for draught work and in mule breeding.

Their coat can be a range of colours, but is often grey or white, and their height ranges from 146 to 155 centimetres.

During the 20th century, their population declined significantly as a result of the introduction of machines in agricultural practices and today there are few of these donkeys remaining.

A close-up image of a large white donkey walking toward the camera. — An Andalusian donkey at our Spanish sanctuary El Refugio del Burrito.

Catalan Donkey

The Catalan donkey is typically between 145 to 160 centimetres for males and 135 to 148 centimetres for females. Their coat colour is often dark with a white underbelly, nose and around the eyes.

Originating from Catalonia, the Catalan was used in Spain for mule breeding for many years, with records dating back to the 9th century. In the 17th century, Catalan stallions were bred with Andalusian horse mares to provide mules to be used to pull transport coaches.

From the 19th century, many Catalan donkeys were exported across the world, including to North, South and Central America, the UK, India and Australia. They also experienced a decline in population numbers during the 1950s due to the rise of machine usage in agriculture.

An image of a dark brown donkey with white around the eyes and nose standing in a long grass field in front of a tree. — Catalan donkey (Credit: Tamara Tadich)

Asinara Donkey

The Asinara donkey originates from the island of Asinara, located off the north-west coast of Sardinia. These donkeys are typically small, with a withers height ranging from 80 to 105 centimetres.

They are known for their distinctive white coat and pink-blue eyes. As most of the population carries the albinism gene, they are particularly sensitive to sunlight.

It is believed that the donkeys were abandoned on the island in the 19th century when it was converted into a penal colony. A group of these donkeys still reside on the island today.

An image of a white donkey and a white donkey foal stood in a green outdoor space looking toward camera. — An Asinara donkey mare and foal (Credit: Cinzia Liverani)

Mirandes Donkey

The Mirandes donkey originates from Northeast Portugal and were historically used for breeding hinnies and for light work such as pulling carts and ploughing.

In more recent years, they are used in tourism activities.

They often have a long coat which is typically dark brown with white around the muzzle and eyes.

An image of two large dark brown donkeys with long coats on a gravel path. — Two Mirandes donkeys (Credit: João Rodrigues)

Zamorano-Leonés Donkey

Originating from provinces in Northwest Spain, the Zamorano-Leonés is a large donkey with males at around 145 centimetres in height and females around 135 centimetres.

Their coat is typically long, shaggy, and dark brown in colours with lighter areas around the muzzle, eyes and underbelly. They also have a distinctive mass of hair on their forehead.

There are reports of the Zamorano-Leonés donkey existing in the region since the 10th century and between the 13th-18th centuries they were exported around the world. They were used for agricultural practices and in mule breeding and today are used in tourism.

An image of a large dark brown donkey wearing a red face harness as they stand sideways looking toward the right. — A Zamorano-Leonés donkey (Credit: João Rodrigues)

Donkey breeds in North and South America

American Mammoth Jackstock Donkeys

American Mammoth Jackstocks are known for their large size, with males as tall as 142 centimetres at the withers and females 137 centimetres. They were selectively bred in the United States using large donkeys imported from Europe in the late 1700s.

Historically used for mule breeding for working purposes, they faced a decline in population as society became more mechanised.

Brazilian Pêga Donkey

The Brazilian Pêga is a type of donkey hailing from the Minas Gerais region in Brazil in the 18th century. Their height is around 135 centimetres and their coat typically grey or roan.

The Pêga is today used for mule production for both leisure and work purposes.

An image of a large donkey with pointed ears stood sideways in an outdoor paddock. — A Brazilian Pêga donkey (Credit: Professor Hélio Cordeiro Manso Filho)

An image of a grey donkey with their grey donkey foal stood underneath their head looking toward camera. — A Brazilian Pêga donkey mare and foal (Credit: Professor Hélio Cordeiro Manso Filho)

Donkey breeds in Africa

Abyssinian Donkey

The Abyssinian donkey originates in Ethiopia.

Their coat colour is typically grey or brown. They are used as pack animals, for transporting goods and in agriculture.

An image of a grey donkey with a black cross on their shoulders grazing. — An Abyssinian Donkey (Credit: Asmamaw Kassaye)

Donkey breeds in Asia

Halari Donkey

From the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India, the Halari has been used as a pack animal and for milk production.

They are usually white in colour, around 107-108 centimetres, and they have a convex forehead, which curves forwards.

An image of a white donkey stood sideways looking toward camera with their white donkey foal sat on the floor in front of them. — A Halari donkey mare and foal (Credit: Ramesh Kumar Perumal)

Shandong Donkey

The Shandong donkey comes from the Shandong province in Eastern China.

Donkey skins are used in traditional Chinese medicine and cosmetic products in a product known as ejiao.

Due to a rapid increase in demand for ejiao since 2016, the population of donkeys in China has decreased significantly and a global trade in donkey skins has emerged with devastating impacts on the donkeys and communities who depend on them.

Our plan to Stop the Slaughter and end the donkey skin trade is the single biggest donkey protection initiative we have ever undertaken.

An image of a large dark brown donkey with a white nose standing with it's head through two metal poles as they look towards camera. — A Shandong donkey at a milk farm in China.

Supporting donkeys populations

Many donkey breeds across the world have significantly declined since the rise of machines in agriculture and farming practices, and this puts donkey populations at risk of a reduction in genetic diversity and inbreeding.

Despite this, we feel it is important to prioritise the wellbeing of the donkeys already in need of care and we therefore do not endorse or encourage the breeding of donkeys or their hybrids (mules and hinnies).

We encourage those interested in supporting donkeys to consider rehoming or adopting rather than breeding or buying a donkey.

Donkeys as individuals

While it’s fascinating to learn about different donkey breeds, it’s important to remember that each donkey is a unique individual with their own personality and characteristics.