A long-term, personal passion project by photographer Iris van Velzen.

An archive of the Icelandic horse in its natural behaviour.

About character, herds, foals, and life in the landscape. Iris waits, watches, and records, without disturbing or directing.

I share field notes, travel updates, and new work as the project grows. Occasionally something you can only get here.
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PHOTOGRAPHS

available as artwork

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FIELD NOTES

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Featured
Photographs from the Icelandic Horse project are International Pet Photography Awards finalists
Photographs from the Icelandic Horse project are International Pet Photography Awards finalists
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The Icelandic Horse Project goes public. Celebrating ten years as a full-time animal photographer in one weekend
The Icelandic Horse Project goes public. Celebrating ten years as a full-time animal photographer in one weekend
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Photographing the colorful mixed herd of The Prairie, Terschelling
Photographing the colorful mixed herd of The Prairie, Terschelling
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Summer with Icelandic Horses in Romania 2024
Summer with Icelandic Horses in Romania 2024
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Photographing Icelandic Horses in the snow in Denmark 2024
Photographing Icelandic Horses in the snow in Denmark 2024
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The Photographer

Iris van Velzen is an award winning Dutch photographer and the founder of the Icelandic Horse Project, a long-term visual project documenting the Icelandic horse, from foals and herd life to landscapes and stories.

Through photography and storytelling I explore what makes the Icelandic horse truly unique: it’s distinctive gaits, remarkable colours, ancient heritage, natural way of living in herds and the connection it has maintained with its origins.

With the Icelandic Horse Project, I want to share the beauty, character and spirit of these remarkable horses and inspire people to feel the deep connection they create with us.

A selection of photographs from The Icelandic Horse Project has received recognition in international competitions, including the International Pet Photography Awards (IPPA) in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

For me these recognitions are not only an honour, but also an encouragement to keep learning, developing my craft and exploring new ways to tell the stories of the animals I photograph.

In September 2025 I received the accreditation of International Associate of Pet Photography from the International Pet Photography Awards and Accreditation (IPPA). This reflects my dedication to professional growth and my belief that continuous learning, attention to detail and a commitment to quality are essential in creating meaningful photography.

BECOME PART OF THE PROJECT

This project grows through the people and herds it meets along the way. 

01

Support the project

Help document the Icelandic horse across the world. Every supporter makes continued travel and research possible.

Become a supporter →

02

Share your herd

Do you own Icelandic horses? Your herd, your mare, your foal — every horse has a story worth documenting.

Register your herd →

03

Partner or collaborate

Organisations, companies and individuals who believe in long-term documentary work are welcome to reach out.

Get in touch →

The Icelandic Horse Project · Iris van Velzen

How well do you know the Icelandic horse?

Ten questions · five minutes · guaranteed surprises

The Icelandic horse is one of the most remarkable breeds in the world — and one of the least understood. This quiz goes beyond the obvious. Some answers will surprise you even if you've known this breed for years.

The Icelandic Horse Project · Iris van Velzen
Quiz
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Ten things you now know about the Icelandic horse
1The Icelandic horse was isolated over a thousand years ago. Since then, no other breed has been crossbred — it is the purest horse in the world.
2The breed has five gaits: walk, trot, canter, tölt, and flying pace. Not every horse can perform all five — the flying pace is a gift, not a given.
3Icelandic horses go into training late — not before their fourth or fifth year. They mature slowly but live long as a result, often well into their thirties.
4A horse that has left Iceland may never return. It is a legal prohibition to protect the breed from diseases it has no resistance to.
5The tölt is so smooth that riders can carry a full glass of beer without spilling. It is the only gait where the rider barely moves.
6The Icelandic horse comes in over a hundred colour and marking variations. There is an Icelandic term for every nuance. More information: worldfengur.com
7Horses are still driven across the Icelandic highlands every autumn — the réttir, the annual round-up, has existed for more than a thousand years.
8Icelandic horses are smaller than most full-sized horses but are officially not called ponies — even when they stand below 148 cm.
9The flying pace can reach up to 48 km/h — one of the fastest gaits of any breed in the world, and surprisingly smooth for the rider.
10More than 150,000 Icelandic horses live outside Iceland. Germany has the most — over 70,000 registered horses.
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Welcome. You will receive the next Field Note when Iris returns from a herd.

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"Through patience and presence, the work slowly grows into a visual study of herd life, mares and foals, landscape and the character of this unique breed."

 Iris van Velzen