Buchanan, F.C., D.T. Colling, Y. Plante, B. de March, J.L. Vega-Pla & Z. Lucas. 2006. Genetic analysis of Sable Island horses relative to fifteen other breeds. Poster, Plant & Animal Genomes XIV Conference, San Diego, January 14-18, 2006.

Summary:

• 16 microsatellites were multiplexed in 16 breeds, and 12/16 microsatellites were amplified in the 16 breeds plus donkey plus five Spanish breeds.  

• Sable Island horses show the lowest genetic diversity.

• Sable horses form a very unique cluster of individuals.

• Sable horses group with draft, light draft and Scandinavian ponies when phylogenies comprised of 16 microsatellites and 15 other breeds.

• Sable horses group with light draft and multipurpose breeds found in Eastern Canada (i.e. Canadian, Newfoundland pony and Hackney) when phylogenies comprised of 12 loci and 20 breeds.