The Akhal-Teke is a Turkmen horse breed. They have a reputation for speed and endurance, intelligence, thin manes and a distinctive metallic sheen which led to their nickname, "Golden Horses". These horses are adapted to survive in severe climatic conditions and are thought to be one of the oldest existing horse breeds. There are currently about 6,600 Akhal-Tekes in the world, mostly in Turkmenistan, although they are also found throughout Europe and North America. The first part of their name, "Akhal," is the name of the line of oases along the north slope of the Köpetdag mountains in Turkmenistan, inhabited by the Teke tribe of Turkmens.