 Horses were first reported in the Kaimanawa Range in 1876 , although the first horses had been brought into New Zealand in 1814 . The feral herds grew as horses escaped and were released from sheep stations and cavalry bases . Members of the herd were recaptured by locals for use as riding horses , as well as being caught for their meat , hair and hides . The herd declined as large scale farming and forestry operations encroached on their ranges , and only around 174 horses were known to exist by 1979 . The Kaimanawa herd was protected by the New Zealand government in 1981 , and there were 1 @,@ 576 horses in the herd by 1994 . A small , mostly unmanaged population also exists on the Aupouri Peninsula at the northern tip of the North Island . Roundups have been carried out annually since 1993 to manage the size of the herd , removing around 2 @,@ 800 horses altogether . The Kaimanawa population is listed as a herd of special genetic value by the United Nations ' Food and Agricultural Organization , and several studies have been conducted on the herd dynamics and habits of the breed . 
 Horses <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> first reported in the Kaimanawa Range in 1876 , although the first horses <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> been brought into New Zealand in 1814 . The feral herds grew as horses escaped and <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> released from sheep stations and cavalry bases . Members of the herd <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> recaptured by locals for use as riding horses , as well as being caught for their meat , hair and hides . The herd declined as large scale farming and forestry operations encroached on their ranges , and only around 174 horses <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> known to exist by 1979 . The Kaimanawa herd was protected by the New Zealand government in 1981 , and <a href='dey_it' title='6'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> 1 @,@ 576 horses in the herd by 1994 . A small , mostly unmanaged population also <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>exists</mark></a> on the Aupouri Peninsula at the northern tip of the North Island . Roundups <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>have</mark></a> been carried out annually since 1993 to manage the size of the herd , removing around 2 @,@ 800 horses altogether . The Kaimanawa population is listed as a herd of special genetic value by the United Nations <a href='null_genetive' title='10'><mark>'</mark></a>Food and Agricultural Organization , and several studies <a href='been_done' title='11'><mark>have</mark></a> been conducted on the herd dynamics and habits of the breed . 
Horses was first reported in the Kaimanawa Range in 1876 , although the first horses done been brought into New Zealand in 1814 . The feral herds grew as horses escaped and was released from sheep stations and cavalry bases . Members of da herd was recaptured by locals for use as riding horses , as well as bein caught fir their meat , hair and hides . Tdaherd declined as bigass scale farming and forestry operations encroached on their ranges , and only around 174 horses was known to exist by 1979 . Thdaaimanawa herd was protected by the New Zealand government in 1981 , and it was 1 @,@ 576 horses in the herd by 1994 . A small , mostly unmanaged population also exist on thedapouri Peninsula at the northern tip of the North Island . Roundups done been carried out annually since 1993 to manage the dae of the herd , removing around 2 @,@ 800 horses altogether . The Kdaanawa population is listed as a herd of special genetic value by the United Nations  Food and Agricultural Organization , and several studies done been conducted on the herd dynamics and habits of the breed .