Question: Have any ancient horse remains from the Nephite period been found in the New World?

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Question: Have any ancient horse remains from the Nephite period been found in the New World?

A few non-Mormon scholars have proposed that real horses survived the New World extinction

Wild horses were present in ancient America during the Pleistocene period (Ice Age), yet were not present at the time of the arrival of the Spaniards. Horses thrived once they were re-introduced by the Spaniards into the New World. The question then is: "Why were horses missing when the Spaniards arrived?" Is it possible that real horses lived in the Americas during Book of Mormon times? And if so, why does there seem to be no archaeological support?

At least a few non-Mormon scholars believe that real horses (of a stature smaller than modern horses) may have survived New World extinction. The late British anthropologist, M.F. Ashley Montague, a non-LDS scholar who taught at Harvard, suggested that the horse never became extinct in America. According to Montague, the size of post-Columbian horses provides evidence that the European horses bred with early American horses.

Non-LDS Canadian researcher, Yuri Kuchinsky, also believes that there were pre-Columbian horses. Kuchinsky, however, believes that horses (smaller than our modern horses) were reintroduced into the west coast of the Americas about 2000 years ago from Asians who came by ship. Among Kuchinsky's evidences for pre-Columbian horses are:

1. Horse traditions among the Indians that may pre-date the arrival of the Spaniards.
2. Supposedly pre-Columbian petroglyphs that appear to depict horses.
3. Noticeable differences between the typical Spanish horse and the much smaller American Indian ponies.

There has currently been found a horse bone that is receiving tests to determine the time of its existence. Primary data has shown that it dates to Book of Mormon times

A horse bone was recently found (2018) and tested by LDS geologist and paleontologist Wade Miller in the south part of Mexico. Initial testing has dated the bone to Book of Mormon times--specifically a very short time after the arrival of Lehi and before the time of Enos. The bone is currently receiving more tests by non-LDS scholars to confirm Miller's results. If it is found that the results are true, this criticism will practically disappear.

• https://bookofmormoncentral.org/blog/new-evidence-for-horses-in-america

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