In Turkmenistan, horses of the Akhal-Teké breed are considered gods. The Berdymoukhamedov family, in power for around twenty years, exploits the image of these animals to try to improve the image of the country.

Published on: 05/06/2026 - 12:15 Modified on: 05/06/2026 - 12:21

Elegant Akhal-Teké horses parade to win the title of most beautiful steed in this reclusive Central Asian country, under the eye of the undisputed president of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdymoukhamedov.

In this country often presented as authoritarian and isolated internationally, the authorities organize a cult around this ancient and rare breed.

This year, it was the sand-colored stallion Hankerven, adorned with golden jewelry and a carpet with traditional motifs, who won this annual competition which AFP attended at the end of April in Ashkhabad, the capital.

Its owner, who won a white Toyota 4

“There are no beauty contests for women in Turkmenistan, but there are for horses,” says Achir, a 70-year-old breeder who remains anonymous because speaking to the rare foreign media without authorization is not recommended.

“Each nation is recognizable and we, Turkmen, are so thanks to our carpets and our horses,” he told AFP at his stud farm not far from Ashkhabad. “This is why our flag is decorated with carpet patterns and our coat of arms represents Akhal-Teké,” explains the breeder.

The “homeland of determined allied horses”

A former Soviet desert republic rich in gas, Turkmenistan is one of the most reclusive states in the world, alongside Afghanistan and North Korea in the rankings of various NGOs analyzing human rights and freedoms.

Akhal-Teké horses are revered there, as evidenced by the country's motto for the year 2026, plastered everywhere: "Independent and neutral Turkmenistan, homeland of determined winged horses".

These animals, "which have always been the faithful companions of the Turkmen people, have become the personification of the rapid development of the Homeland", proclaimed Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, the former president (2006-2022), father of Serdar and holder of immense powers, last year.

According to Turkmen media, "the veneration of these heavenly horses has become a strategic priority of the state and constitutes the unshakable foundation of national identity."

Legend has it that the Akhal-Teké earned its nickname "heavenly horse" after beating a falcon in a race. For the authorities, this cult links the ancestral presence of the Akhal-Teké to that of the Turkmens on these lands where various nomadic tribes roamed before the Russian conquest in the 19th century. Symbols of this veneration, monuments representing these horses are regularly inaugurated, the last in the spring, noted AFP.

In 2023, Gurbanguly Berdymoukhamedov had a 43-meter golden statue built representing him on his favorite horse in a posture reminiscent of the famous painting of Napoleon Bonaparte by Jacques-Louis David.

Fond of records, the Turkmen leader had the largest Akhal-Teké head built in the world on the Ashkhabad racecourse and his horse entered the Guinness Book for having covered 10 meters in 4.19 seconds while rearing. Never lacking in inspiration, he wrote numerous books praising these horses and a rap song about a foal.

The Berdymoukhamedovs "increased their interest in the Akhal-Teké", a breed "on the verge of extinction" during the Soviet era, summarizes an employee of the State Organization of Turkmen Horses, on condition of anonymity.

Horses as objects of diplomacy

According to this official, the registration in 2023 of the Akhal-Teké breeding stock as a UNESCO intangible world heritage site is “a major achievement of national cultural policy”.

Akhal-Teké are estimated at between 4,000 and 7,000 in the world, the vast majority of whom are in state breeding farms in Turkmenistan.

“This breed is characterized by its large size, its long legs, its well-developed musculature, its fine and elegant head carried by a long straight neck, its expressive eyes, its high withers and its robust hooves,” Sapargeldy, a 66-year-old retired veterinarian, explains to AFP.

According to him, “in the sun, the horse sparkles” thanks to “its hollow (fine) hair which reflects the light differently”. “The Akhal-Teké is a wonderful sports horse. The breed developed in harsh desert climates and has proven itself in endurance, dressage and show jumping,” explains the ex-veterinarian.

This horse is at the heart of Turkmen diplomacy, despite interactions with the outside world limited to the strict minimum.

The rare foreign dignitaries visiting Turkmenistan are regularly offered an Akhal-Teké, including former French President François Mitterrand, but also Russian leaders Vladimir Putin and Chinese leaders Xi Jinping, the regime's main allies.

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With AFP

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