The ’Great Plains’ of French Polynesia

Horseback riding in the Marquesas Islands

Horseback riding off the beaten track

Herds of wild horses

There’s no better way to see the Marquesas Islands than on horseback. So mount up for an unforgettable day in the saddle.

lyrics from Les Marquises by Jacques Brel

Quelques vieux chevaux blancs qui fredonnent Gauguin", (A few old white horses humming Gauguin)

At a walk, on the trot, or at a gallop

Visiting the Marquesas Islands without going for a horseback ride, would be like visiting Papeete market without stopping to admire the flowers. You’d be missing out on something special! Because, although the Marquesas Islands are known as The Land of Men, they could just as rightly be called The Land of Horses. Especially Ua Huka, which is famed for its herds of wild horses. So, regardless of whether or not you’re an accomplished rider, let yourself be tempted for a day, or even longer if you go on a bivouac trail.

You’ll see the horses roaming freely in wild herds and, sometimes, you might even spot a Marquesan using a lasso to catch one, just like a cowboy on a ranch in the Far West. Then he’ll take it down to the beach to break it in, and from then onwards, he’ll be able to mount it quite safely. But it’s probably best not to copy the local style of horseback riding; Marquesans tend to ride with just a burlap cloth for a saddle. So saddle up, and take a trot along the mountain ridges, canter through the untamed valleys and occasionally, slacken the reins and enjoy the thrill of a gallop in the ‘Great Plains’ of the Marquesas Islands.