The Kazakh is believed to descend from the Asiatic Wild Horse,[2] and the original steppe version of the breed has existed since at least the 5th century BCE. Since then, the breed has been influenced by Arabian, Karabair, Akhal-Teke and Mongolian horse blood. During the later part of the 20th century, Thoroughbred, Orlov Trotter and Russian Don blood has also been added.[3] The Kazakh today resembles a more elegant version of the Mongolian horse. The breed is still bred today by formerly nomadic Kazakh tribesmen, although cross-breeding has somewhat diluted the traditional bloodlines of the breed