These robust, medium-sized animals, closely related to the Pindos and Thessalian breeds, originate from work horses released by local Greek farmers in the 1960s and 1970s.

The rich wetland formed by the delta provides them with a favorable biotope, enabling them to survive as wild herds in the national park that has since been created.

However, the breed faces a number of threats, including competition for food from cattle and the capture of mares by farmers, and its long-term survival is not assured.

[3][4] However, their presence is sometimes a nuisance for local farmers, as they leave their biotope during periods of flooding, and seek out sources of food in the surrounding crops, which they damage.

[5] In 2008, people in charge of the Axios, Loudias, Aliakmonas National Park carried out a study to characterize this equine population.

[3] They compete with domestic cattle and sheep for access to food resources,[16] livestock being the main source of soil and environmental degradation.

[19] The region is affected by West Nile fever,[20] and females are probably regularly captured by locals, also jeopardizing the survival of this population.