A Gulf Coast native sheep with a woolly coat and white face grazing in a pen. — Photo: Jenny from Tallahassee, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gulf Coast Native Sheep

Ovis aries

The oldest type of sheep in the United States, a hardy breed descended from Spanish settlers' flocks that handles heat and humidity well.

🐐 Farm Animals 🦓 Hoofed Mammals

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About the Gulf Coast Native Sheep

Gulf Coast native sheep come from sheep first brought to North America by Spanish settlers, making them the oldest type of sheep in the U.S. They were bred to handle the heat and humidity of the Southeast, and their light wool keeps them comfortable in summer. They have wool-free faces and legs. Males weigh 120 to 150 pounds and females 100 to 120 pounds.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Ovis aries^[1]
Size: About 3.5 feet long.^[1]
Weight: Males 120 to 150 pounds. Females 100 to 120 pounds.^[1]
Lifespan: About 12 years.^[1]
Diet: Herbivore. Hay, plants, grain and produce.^[1]
Where it lives: The Gulf Coast of the southeastern United States.^[1]
Babies: Usually one birth a year. Twins are very common.^[1]

Fun facts

They are the oldest type of sheep found in the United States.^[1]
A Florida herd has gone since 1962 without needing deworming medicine.^[1]
Both males and females can grow horns.^[1]

Vocabulary

domesticated: Tamed and raised by people over many generations.
breed: A group of domestic animals that people have raised to share certain traits.
ewe / ram: Names for an adult female (ewe) and adult male (ram) sheep.
parasite: A living thing that lives on or in another and harms it.
hoof rot: An infection of an animal's hoof.

See it in person

Zoo AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia · All AnimalsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Zoo Atlanta. “Gulf Coast Native Sheep.” https://zooatlanta.org/animal/gulf-coast-native-sheep/ (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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