North American horses did indeed evolve, but they became extinct on the continent approximately 8,000-12,000 years ago. The genus Equus, to which the horse belongs, originally evolved in North America. This means that the ancestors of the modern horse were present on the continent millions of years ago.
During the Pleistocene epoch, which lasted from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, North America was home to a diverse array of horse species. These species included the three-toed horse (genus Nannippus), the stilt-legged horse (genus Haringtonhippus), and the true horse (genus Equus).
The North American horses of this time period were well-adapted to the environment in which they lived. They were grazers, feeding on grasses and other vegetation, and they likely played an important role in shaping the ecosystems of the time. They were preyed upon by large carnivores such as saber-toothed cats and dire wolves.
Unfortunately, the North American horses eventually faced a combination of environmental and human pressures that led to their extinction on the continent. Climate change, specifically the end of the Pleistocene and the onset of the Holocene epoch, brought about shifts in vegetation patterns and the loss of grasslands. This would have had a significant impact on the horses’ food supply.
Additionally, the arrival of humans in North America also contributed to the decline and eventual extinction of the native horse species. The exact role of human hunting in the extinction of these horses is still debated among scientists, but there is evidence to suggest that early human populations did hunt and consume horses.
It is important to note that while the native horses became extinct in North America, they survived and thrived in other parts of the world. Fossil records show that horses migrated to Eurasia via the Bering Land Bridge, which connected North America and Siberia during periods of lower sea levels. These horses eventually spread to other parts of the world, including Africa and Asia, and eventually made their way back to the Americas with the arrival of European explorers and settlers.
North American horses did evolve and were once a diverse and important part of the continent’s ecosystems. However, environmental changes and human activities led to their extinction on the continent thousands of years ago. Today, horses in North America are descendants of the horses that were reintroduced by Europeans.