La Reina (also known as the Creole cattle) is a Nicaraguan local breed originating from the Bos taurus varieties brought to America during the Spanish colonization in the 15th century.
The Nicaraguan government started an official inventory in the 1970s and in 1988 the Reyna cattle were declared as national patrimony, and in conjunction with the National Agrarian University of Nicaragua (Universidad Nacional Agraria) (UNA) agreed to a genetic improvement program of the cattle.
[1] La Reina cattle have special characteristics for the tropics, they possess genes that make them heat tolerant.
Commercial dairy breed crosses had the highest production, and Reyna the lowest, but large differences were noted in management between the herds.
[2] La Reina cattle are red in colour and are slick haired, giving superior heat tolerance.