Descended from The Churra, a breed of sheep brought to North America from The Iberian Pennisula to feed Spanish armies and settlers, the Navajo-Churro Sheep is a breed that is kept in this day and age primarily for its wool. They developed the “Navajo” portion of their name when they were traded to Navajo tribesmen and became a vital part of their economy and culture.

Flock reductions and cross breading has decimated Navajo-Churro numbers and left them on the brink of extinction in the 1970s, but the breed has since rebounded thanks to preservation efforts, and although it’s still rare, it is in no danger of ceasing to exist. Known for its hardiness, climate adaptability, low level of required maintenance, high disease resistance, and ability to get along with human handlers, the Navajo-Churro Sheep is one of the more popular rare breeds kept in the American Midwest today.

Often born in groups of twins, the Navajo-Churro (also called just “Churro”) is also reffered to as the American Four-Horned sheep because of its Ram’s ability to grow four fully developed horns; a trait that few breeds in the world can claim. Churros can also form six horns, but this is rare. Both rams and ewes develop horns, but the rams see far more development in theirs.

These sheep have very lean meat when used for feeding, but are almost exclusively kepy for their wool because of their thick and full coats. Churros come in a variety of shades of red, brown, black, white and mixes.

A Navajo-Churro recently made news when it escaped its trailer during transport and led Iowa officials and citizens on an hour long chase throughout Des Moines.