In this context, "Oriental" means anywhere east--and in one case south--of Europe. The Oriental group comprises a handful of very old breeds, known for being long, lean and superbly fast. They typically have thin skin and exceptionally fine hair, and are single-coated. They have been breed to be incredibly durable, and able to get by on what little food there is in the desert or on the steppes. They are also intelligent and independent to the point of downright stubbornness, and can be quite a handful for an inexperienced horse lover.
Breeds in this group include the Akhal-Teke, the Teke Turkoman, the Arabian, the Moroccan Barb, the Caspian, and the Marwari and Kathiawari.