The history of the Karachai people is inextricably linked with the fate of the Karachai horse, and the tragic events that fell to the lot of the Karachais also affected the breed of hardy mountain horses created as a result of popular selection. This work is devoted to the history of the origin of the Karachay mountain breed of horses in the North Caucasus, since the controversy arising around this topic has long since left the format of scientific discussions.