Pronunciation: [mˈʌstaŋ] (IPA) 
The word "mustang" is spelled with nine letters and pronounced as /ˈmʌstæŋ/. The first syllable "mus" is pronounced with a short "u" sound followed by an "s" sound. The second syllable "tang" is pronounced with a short "a" sound followed by a nasal "ng" sound. The final "g" in "mustang" is often silent in American English, but pronounced in British English. "Mustang" refers to a small, hardy horse breed that originated in North America.
A mustang refers to a small, free-roaming horse commonly found in North America, particularly in the western regions. Mustangs are descendants of domesticated horses introduced by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century. They are renowned for their toughness, agility, and endurance, making them well-adapted to survive in harsh environments such as deserts, plains, and mountainous areas.
In terms of physical characteristics, mustangs typically possess a compact and muscular body structure. They vary in size, standing between 13 to 15 hands high at the withers. Their coats can exhibit an array of colors, including bay, black, chestnut, gray, and sometimes even pinto patterns. Mustangs also possess a thick, flowing mane and tail.
These horses are recognized for their unparalleled sense of freedom and independence, as they live in herds, governed by a hierarchical social structure. They have developed highly evolved social behaviors and display strong bonds between their members.
In recent times, mustangs have faced various challenges due to encroachment on their habitats, leading to population decline and threat of extinction. Efforts have been made to protect and preserve these horses, with organizations and government agencies implementing strategies such as contraception programs and adoption events to maintain their delicate ecosystem balance while safeguarding the genetic diversity of mustang populations.
The wild horse of the prairies of Mexico, California, &c., small and hardy.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "mustang" originated from the Spanish term "mestengo" or "mesteño", which means "stray" or "wild" in English. The Spanish term was eventually anglicized to "mustang". It was primarily used to refer to the feral horses that roamed the American Southwest, descendants of horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. Over time, "mustang" evolved to specifically denote the wild and free-roaming horses in North America.
