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Horses were among the [[tribute]] goods demanded of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] by China, and were also presented as gifts to the Tokugawa shogunate.

Horses were among the [[tribute]] goods demanded of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] by China, and were also presented as gifts to the Tokugawa shogunate.

The first horse(s?) to be sent as gifts to Ming China were sent in [[1374]], with a mission led by [[Taiki]], younger brother of King [[Satto]], the first Ryukyuan mission to be sent to China. Records of Chinese merchants or officials journeying to Ryûkyû to purchase horses begin shortly afterwards.

Horses likely first came to the Ryukyus in the 11th century, from Kyushu.<ref>Umezaki Harumitsu 梅崎晴光, ''Kieta Ryûkyû keiba'' 消えた琉球競馬, Naha: Borderink (2012), 81.</ref> The first horse(s?) to be sent as gifts to Ming China were sent in [[1374]], with a mission led by [[Taiki]], younger brother of King [[Satto]], the first Ryukyuan mission to be sent to China. Records of Chinese merchants or officials journeying to Ryûkyû to purchase horses begin shortly afterwards.

Over the course of the period of the [[Ming Dynasty]] (1368-1644), 15-20 horses were sent as gifts from Ryûkyû to China. Following the Manchu takeover, and the beginning of the [[Qing Dynasty]], demand for (or interest in) Ryukyuan horses dwindled, until finally in [[1681]] horses were removed from the list of tribute goods requested/demanded by China.

Over the course of the period of the [[Ming Dynasty]] (1368-1644), 15-20 horses were sent as gifts from Ryûkyû to China. Following the Manchu takeover, and the beginning of the [[Qing Dynasty]], demand for (or interest in) Ryukyuan horses dwindled, until finally in [[1681]] horses were removed from the list of tribute goods requested/demanded by China.