Until the enf of the eighteenth century, two races of the wild horse Equus ferus, existed in Europe and the Russian steppes, and the Mongolian wild horse, or Przewalski's horse, in Mongolia wild horse, or Przewalksi's horse in Mongolia. These two races were the relics of vast populations of wild equines that inhabited virtually the whole of Europe, Asia, and North America at the close of the last Ice Age, 12.000 years ago. It is possible that some foals were tamed by humans, but at this time horses were much more frequently eaten than they were ridden. From 9000 years ago the wild horse became increasingly rare; its remains are seldom found on archaeological sites in Europe, while in North America all equines became totally extinct.