American Mammoth Jackstock

For the extinct hairy elephant-like animal of North America, see Columbian mammoth.

The American Mammoth Jackstock is a breed of North American donkey, descended from large donkeys imported to the United States from about 1785. George Washington, with Henry Clay and others, bred for an ass that could be used to produce strong work mules. Washington was offering his jacks for stud service by 1788. Large breeds of asses were found in Kentucky by 1800.^[1] Breeds that influenced the Mammoth Jack include the Maltese, the Baudet du Poitou, the Andalusian, the Majorcan and the Catalan.^[2]

American mammoth donkey

Romulus and Cara - November 6, 2013
Other names	Mammoth Jack (males)
Country of origin	United States
Donkey Equus asinus

Measured from the ground to the withers, Jacks (entire males) must stand at least 14 hands (56 inches, 142 cm), and jennies or jennets (females) at least 13.2 hands (54 inches, 137 cm) in order to be classified as mammoth size.^[3][4] The American Mammoth Jackstock Registry has more stringent requirements: minimum 14 hands and 7.5” cannon bone circumference for jennets and geldings; minimum 14.2 hands and 8” cannon bone circumference for jacks; 61” heart girth in all cases^[5]

The largest living mammoth donkey, at 17 hands (68 inches, 173 cm), resides in Adrian, Michigan.^[6]