Yes, it is possible to breed a mini donkey with a mini horse. This crossbreeding results in a hybrid offspring.
Breeding animals from different species within the Equidae family, such as donkeys (Equus asinus) and horses (Equus caballus), is a known practice that produces hybrid animals. While donkeys and horses are distinct species with different numbers of chromosomes, they are genetically close enough to interbreed. The size of the donkey and horse involved can influence the size of the resulting offspring, which is why miniature versions of these crosses exist.
What Kind of Offspring Results?
When a donkey breeds with a horse, the offspring is typically called a mule or a hinny, depending on which parent is the mother.
- When a male donkey (jack) breeds with a female horse (mare), the offspring is a mule.
- When a male horse (stallion) breeds with a female donkey (jenny), the offspring is a hinny.
In the case of miniature donkeys and miniature horses, the offspring is typically a miniature mule or hinny.
Evidence from Reference:
As noted in available information, "Sally is a miniature mule, born from a small donkey named Dominic and a miniature horse named Sassy." This specific example clearly demonstrates that a small donkey and a miniature horse can successfully breed to produce a miniature mule.
This crossbreeding is a testament to the close biological relationship between donkeys and horses, allowing for such hybrids to occur.
