Few people would have expected domestic horses to survive after years of human care, but they did. In 1998 it was strongly suggested that the horses were genetically pure Spanish Barbs. Bred to survive long sea journeys and harsh conditions, they flourished.

On a sun-drenched and salt-seared island they found food, shelter and water in the pine forests. Only a few horses were lost to people from the outer islands who captured them for work at sugar mills.