What is the average lifespan of a horse in the wild?

What is the average lifespan of a horse in the wild? About 15–20 years.

Wild horses face conditions that reduce longevity compared with well-managed domestic horses. Food and water shortages, injuries, disease, harsh weather, and predation all increase mortality, especially among foals, older horses, and animals weakened by illness.

Domestic horses commonly live around 25–30 years because humans provide regular nutrition, veterinary treatment, shelter, and protection from predators. That figure should not be transferred directly to genuinely wild populations.

The term “wild horse” is also sometimes used loosely for feral horses descended from domesticated animals. Their lifespan can vary by habitat and management, but available evidence still supports a shorter typical lifespan than that of domestic horses. Individual wild horses may live longer, but the average is generally placed around 15–20 years.