The Criollo Crespo or Bashkir Curly is an equine breed that was long believed to be extinct in this part of the continent. However, it can now be found in the fields of southern Río Negro province, Argentina, thanks to the determination and passion of Gerardo Rodríguez, a local veterinarian, and his partner, Andrea Sede. In 2019, biologist Mitch Wilkinson of Texas A&M University came to Maquinchao to study these horses and take hair and blood samples. What he discovered was extraordinary: the mutation that produces curls in Argentine horses is not the same as in Russia or the United States. It is unique in the world, which means that these specimens are unique not only in South America, but on the entire planet. Described as gentle and docile, robust, curious and intelligent, these horses are truly attractive. Males reach their full size between 6 and 7 years of age, with a height ranging from 1.42 to 1.50 meters. However, their distinctive mark, without a doubt, is their elegant curly fur. During the winter months, they cover their bodies with soft-touch curls. But how did these horses end up in Patagonia? One of the oldest theories dates back to 1536, when Pedro de Mendoza, governor of the Spanish colony, introduced 100 work and war horses from Cadiz. After the Spanish fled, these horses were abandoned and began to reproduce en masse, populating much of Argentina. When they returned years later, they noticed that some of these horses had developed the characteristic curly hair. Another relevant theory suggests that an expedition led by Bishop Trejo introduced horses into southern Argentina. A third version mentions that these horses could have arrived from the north, crossing the Bering Strait, and originated in the region of Bashkiria, Russia.