It is one of the fifteen indigenous horse "breeds of limited distribution" recognised by the AIA, the Italian breeders' association.
Studies by Valiati (1997) and by Bell (1999) of transferrins are reported to confirm common ancestry with the Iberian horse of the sixteenth century.
[4] The "constant" presence of the seventh molar in the upper jaw is cited as evidence of ancient origin by Baccino, who notes that this characteristic is shared by only a few ancient breeds such as the Exmoor Pony and the Caspian Horse; he also notes the presence in the Sarcidano of an allele otherwise seen only in Przewalski's Horse.
[2] A second herd, privately owned, also lives in the same area, while a third group is held by the Istituto di Incremento Ippico della Sardegna (Sardinian horse-breeding institution) of Ozieri, at Foresta Burgos in central northern Sardinia.
24347, dated 5 November 2003; the stud-book was established in 2005, and is held by the Associazione Provinciale Allevatori (regional breeders' association) of Nuoro.