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The Puro Sangue Orientale (PSO), is a breed of oriental type horse (the name can be translated as “Pure Oriental Blood”) created in the Kingdom of Italy by Royal Decree n° 2690 del 19/09/1875, which created a Stud Book dedicated to this horse breed. Starting in 1864 the Italian Government had sent emissaries in Syria and Mesopotamia to purchase desert bred horses directly from Bedouin tribes. Numerous stallions and mares were purchased and brought back to Sicily, many being destined to the Royal Remount Station in Catania. Thus the breeding of desert bred horses in Italy pre-date the stud of Lady Anne Blunt and Crabbet Park. Furthermore the PSO had the backing of the Italian Government from the get go. The Puro Sangue Orientale (PSO) is a mesomorphic or mesodolichomorphic horse, with particularly harmonious forms. It closely resembles an Arabian horse, being however a little taller and with more substantial physique. Height is between 1.45 m and 1.55 m (14.1 to 15.1 hands), with some specimens reaching 1.60 m (15.3 hands). Its coat It is therefore similar to a Shagya or a Tersk horse. Sadly its numbers have been declining, and the Goevernment Stud where it is bred is carrying out a policy of systematically crossing with Arabian horses, causing the dilution of the qualities original Syrian desert bred strain.