Mongolia's president hails horses during U.N. General Assembly, spotlights World Horse Day

UNITED NATIONS — Mongolia's president, Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, used his address to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday to honor horses, tying their significance to culture and livelihoods and to the Assembly's designation of World Horse Day on July 11. "Horses have been integral to human livelihoods, culture and civilizations since time immemorial," Ukhnaa said.

He noted Mongolia's long history with horse riding and thanked Assembly members for supporting the initiative. The designation aims to raise awareness of the role that horses play in farming, transportation, equestrian sports and tourism. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization says there are more than 60 million horses worldwide. Mongolia counts more horses — 3.4 million — than people, who number 3.3 million.

During the remarks, Ukhnaa also emphasized Mongolia's long tradition of horsemanship and its influence on daily life and national identity. "From the moment of birth, we Mongols have grown up on horseback," he told the Assembly, a line that underscored the cultural resonance of equestrian life in his country.

Beyond horses, the president highlighted Mongolia's contributions to U.N. peacekeeping and touched on water issues and women's role in politics and peacekeeping, among other topics. The speech reflected a broader agenda at the United Nations, where leaders address a wide range of global challenges while also celebrating cultural heritage and its contemporary relevance.

Observers noted that the moment underscored how cultural heritage can inform diplomacy, even as the General Assembly tackles peacekeeping, development, environment and gender equality. The emphasis on World Horse Day aligns with Mongolia's bid to foreground traditional practices within an international framework, blending cultural identity with global responsibilities.