First brought to Iceland by the earliest Viking settlers nearly 1100 years ago, these small horses are the only horses allowed in the country. While small, they are incredibly strong and have 5 easy riding gaits, similar to the Tennessee Walking horse. I had the pleasure of riding one named Hraggar at the Ishetar Riding Center near Reykjavik. To keep the breed pure and free from disease, no livestock is permitted to be brought into the country and if a horse is taken out of the country, it will not be permitted to return.