The article analyzes the state of horse breeding in Ukraine as a whole and the gene pool of base and local breeds. The characteristics of the quantitative composition, directions of use of horses, indicators of the main breeding characteristics and the genealogical structure of basic and local breeds are given. Horse breeding in Ukraine is represented by a significant variety of horse breeds, the most numerous of them are Ukrainian Warmblood, Novoalexandrovsky Draft, Orlov’s Trotter, Russian Trotter, Trakenen breed and other riding breeds of European breeds. A small purebred population of the Tori breed and the local Hutsul breed has been preserved. The economic conditions of the country play a significant role in the formation of breed diversity, which orient the equestrian market to sports and active leisure of a person. In Ukraine, the majority of horses are represented by working livestock and hobby-class horses (99.4 %).