At the plenary meeting of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on 3 June 2025, the resolution on "World Horse Day" initiated by the President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, was discussed and adopted.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, there are over 57 million working and riding horses in the world today. This reflects the importance of horses in everyday human life, as well as in society, the economy and various industries.
Horses are used for riding, transport, sport, tourism and leisure, and contribute to health, food production and many other fields. They play an especially vital role in vast territories and in regions with extreme climates.
In recent years, however, changes in lifestyles, technological progress, economic specialization, climate and environmental change have caused a worldwide decline in horse populations, breeds, and traditional uses.
As a nomadic, equestrian nation that has preserved horse culture and traditions since ancient times, Mongolia, through its President, initiated the draft UN resolution to designate 11 July each year as World Horse Day, in order to draw global attention to this issue and raise public awareness and engagement.
"World Horse Day will serve as a platform to highlight the immense role and contribution of horses to humanity's past and present, to support concrete activities promoting horses and horse husbandry in sustainable agricultural development, and to call for the protection of equestrian heritage, pastures and nomadic livelihoods."
— U. Khurelsukh, President of Mongolia
56 countries — including Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, the Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China, Venezuela, Qatar, Lesotho, Morocco, Russia, Portugal, Germany, Thailand, Türkiye, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan — joined Mongolia as co-sponsors of the resolution.
In accordance with the resolution, World Horse Day will be celebrated for the first time worldwide on 11 July 2025.