The Haflinger is a mountain horse from the South Tyrolean Alps, and is named after the mining village of Hafling. In Italian, the village is called Avelengo, which is why Haflingers are also called Avelignese in Italy.

The home of the Haflingers is a small village in the high mountains of the South Tyrolean Alps. It used to be impossible to get to the mountain villages by car. There were usually only narrow paths that the farmers could only traverse on foot or with a surefooted horse like a Haflinger. Even on the most perilous mountain paths, Haflingers never put a foot wrong. That's why the farmers used them as draught horses to tow wagons or sleds carrying food and commodities. Nowadays, Haflingers are popular sport and leisure horses.

Fun Fact
Haflingers crossed with Arab horses are called Arabo-Haflingers.