The Chakouyi is a Chinese breed of a gaited horse.

The horse from the Silk Road:
Many heard about the Silk Road--a road that connected China to Europe--that was in use from the 2nd-century B.C.E until the mid-15th century A.D.E. It is famous for being the main route through which goods--such as silk--were transported between the Far East, Middle East, and Europe.

In addition to goods, the Silk Road was also the quickest route to transfer letters and messages. This required fast horses with good endurance, and the building of stables where those horses can rest along the road. It was in the stables along the road in Gansu Province that the Chakouyi was born.

The Chakouyi today:
Being natural amblers of good speed and endurance, Chakouyi horses played a major role in the Chinese postal service system for centuries. Even when the Silk Road fell out of use, Chakouyi horses remained in constant use as mounts for messengers.

Today, the Chakouyi is still being used for riding and transportation in the rural areas of Gansu Province, China. Some also serve as racehorses in local races for ambling horses.

Conformation:
Chakouyi horses have a light head with a straight profile, large eyes, and small ears that are set upright. Their neck is of medium length, and connects to long but smooth withers. The croup is sloping, the chest is deep, the body is broad, and the overall frame is squarish.

Performance metrics:
The following are the: range, average, (SD), and MOE of performance metrics of ordered Chakouyi Horses in Horse Isle (not bred ones). In rare cases, horses might have metrics outside of the range. Breeders can produce horses that are beyond this range.

Speed: 14.8-15.8, 15.3 (0.2), 0.04.
Sprint: 35-45, 41 (2), 0.43.

Accel: 0.72-0.92, 0.82 (0.04), 0.01.
Decel: 0.75-0.91, 0.84 (0.04), 0.01.

Jump: 4.97-5.25, 5.10 (0.06), 0.01.
Pull: 1.49-1.88, 1.71 (0.09), 0.02.

Turning: 35.88-50.39, 43.80 (3.19), 0.62.
Reverse: 1.9-2.5, 2.2 (0.1), 0.03.

Stamina: 45.94-49.07, 47.53 (0.78), 0.15.
Reaction: 0.77-0.85, 0.81 (0.02), 0.00.

Coats & Height:
Colors: dark bay (termed 'brown' in Horse Isle), brown, and more rarely, black, grey.

Additionals: sooty, dark mane & tail. The coat is always solid, with many horses having a star on their forehead. In Horse Isle, Chakouyi horses will be penalized if they have too prominent markings.

Height: 12.3hh to 13.1hh.