IUCN (The World Conservation Union) edits regularly an “Equid action plan” whose aims are:
1/ Make an assessment of the knowledge on numbers and range of the current population (wild and captive) of the wild equid species.
2/ Identify actions to be undertaken in order to conserve genetical diversity within those populations (wild and captive).
3/ Preserve the habitats of those species.
The table below illustrates the work realized: It allowed attribution of a conservation status to each species (moreover the sub-species are also treated) according to IUCN scientific criteria.
| IUCN Category | Definition | |
| African wild ass | Critically endangered (CR) | Considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild |
| Asian wild ass | Vulnerable (VU) | Considered to be facing a high risk
of extinction in the wild |
| Przewalski's horse | Critically endangered (CR) | Considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild |
| Mountain zebra | Endangered (EN) | Considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in theConsidered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wildConsidered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild wild. |
| Grévy's zebra | Endangered (EN) | Considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. |
| Plain zebra | Non threatened even though some sub-species are extinct | |
| Kiang | Least concern (LC) | Widespread and abundant species |