(CNN)Tough, strong and noble; these are the sorts of qualities one would expect from a national symbol. The fabled Karabakh horse is a rare and beautiful animal that is of great importance to Azerbaijanis. But the country's national animal that can be found everywhere from its stories to its postage stamps is faced with extinction. In the thickly forested foothills of Sheki, a small city 300km (187 miles) from the capital Baku, is one of world's largest and purest Karabakh herds. Their owner, Yashar Guluzade, has been restoring the breed for over a decade in this unspoilt mountainous region.
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The Karabakh horse is Azerbaijan's national animal
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There are less than 1,000 Karabakh bred horses left in the world
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The government is running a horse breeding programs to save the animal from extinction
The century-old breed is said to have incredible endurance and strength, qualities that @placeholder's hope will see the animals fight off extinction.