The founder of the breed was Nonius Senior, born in 1810, believed to be out of a Norman mare and half-bred stallion.
The horse was taken to Hungary where the breed was developed.
He was not thought of, as having outstanding conformation, having a course head, short neck, long back, low set tail, small eyes and “mule ears”.
Despite these shortcomings he was a prolific sire producing offspring of great conformation and action; with local mares and Arabs.
Hungarian horse-Nonius By shannons_go_rawr
Around 1860 Thoroughbred blood was introduced to improve the breed.
There were two types of this breed, a larger horse, which stood 15.3 – 16hh, and the smaller type, which was used for light farm work, which stood up to 15.3hh.
Typical coat colours are brown, bay, chestnut and black, either unmarked or modestly marked with white.
The breed is also known for the heavy but proportional head with a convex profile called either a ram's head or Roman nose.
The breed exhibits traits common to heavy-boned driving and light draft horses: powerful arched, well formed high-set neck, broad,strong and muscular back, open but powerful loin, deep and sloping strong quarters.
The chest is broad rather than deep, and is usually more shallow than the hindquarters.
The hooves and legs are very strong.
These horses are also known for a kind, even temperament and great willingness and capacity for work both in harness and under saddle.
In addition they are usually easy keepers with high endurance.
They are used today in agricultural work, light draft and the sport of combined driving,carriage horse and riding horse.
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