ASTANA – A young Akhal-Teke filly named Akzhan, born to purebred horses Ganatly and Tabys, has attracted widespread attention in Kazakhstan for her rare isabelline coat and has become an emerging cultural symbol in Astana. Born on March 30, 2025, Akzhan belongs to one of the rarest color varieties of the Akhal-Teke breed, with only around 3% of the horses displaying the distinctive pale golden coat.
The fine structure of her hair reflects light, creating the metallic sheen for which the breed is renowned. Akzhan is also a favorite of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In Kazakh tradition, horses with this coloring have long been associated with prosperity, good fortune and nobility.
Horse at the center of Kazakh civilization For centuries, the horse has occupied a central place in Kazakh culture, shaping transportation, trade, warfare and daily life across the Great Steppe. Akzhan is one of the rare Akhal-Teke horses with a color variety seen in only around 3% of the breed.
Photo credit: Akorda “The horse has always been more than an animal for the Kazakh people. It formed the foundation of our civilization, accompanied nomads throughout their lives and became a source of strength and inspiration,” said cultural expert Assel Nikambekova.
According to Nikambekova, horses also occupy an important place in Turkic mythology and in Kazakhstan’s historical identity. “The Botai archaeological culture established the horse as one of the defining symbols of Kazakh civilization,” she said. Archaeological discoveries at the Botai settlement in northern Kazakhstan, dating to the fourth millennium B.C., provide some of the earliest evidence of horse domestication.
Many researchers believe that the inhabitants of present-day Kazakhstan were among the first to domesticate horses for riding and practical use. The development transformed human mobility, expanded trade routes and played a significant role in the emergence of nomadic civilizations across Eurasia.
Petroglyphs found throughout Kazakhstan similarly depict horses at the center of hunting scenes, rituals and battles, reflecting their importance in the worldview of ancient steppe societies.