A second importation of Soay sheep occurred in 1990.  These Soay sheep, first brought into Canada and later into the United States, are also eligible for registration with SOA.

It had been suggested in a number of articles in recent years that the "British Soays" or "RBST registerable," as those from the 1990 importation are known, are the only purebred Soay sheep on the North American continent.  As evidenced by numerous publications3, Soay sheep have indeed been crossbred on both Soay and Hirta in decades and centuries past.  It is known that American Soay sheep do have both the variety in color and attributes found in the Hirta Soay sheep which do not currently exist in the British Soay sheep of North America.  American and British Soay share equal value and status in Soays of America, Inc., recognizing the distinctive qualities of each.

1   Page 39 of Winter 2004 issue of The Ark, The Journal of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

    Page 28 of Island Survivors, published 1974 by The Athlone Press, University of London. 

2   Page 1 of Soay Sheep, published 2004 by Cambridge University Press.

    Page 28 of Island Survivors, published 1974 by The Athlone Press, University of London.

3   Page 41 of Winter 2004 issue of The Ark, The Journal of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

    Page 31 of Island Survivors, published 1974 by The Athlone Press, University of London.

    Page 24 of Soay Sheep, published 2004 by Cambridge University Press.

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Soay sheep on Soay and Hirta are considered a landrace.

Soay sheep were originally imported into North America in 1970, and our sheep descend from this importation, retaining the variations in both color and horn types found on Soay and Hirta, as well as good health and hardiness.  One of the many positive attributes of Soay sheep is a high resistance to disease, intestinal worms and hoof ailments.  Their tails are naturally short and do not require docking.  The wool from these sheep may naturally shed each summer, negating any need for shearing equipment.  For truly hardy and low maintenance small livestock, the Soay sheep is an excellent choice.  Please view our Soay Photos page to see some examples of the variety currently found within this breed.

The Soay sheep on the North American continent descend from the primitive Soay sheep originally found on the island of Soay, in the archipelago of St Kilda, 110 miles off the coast of Scotland. Although it is generally thought that the Vikings named the islands "Soay," meaning "sheep island;" it is not yet known how the primitive Soay sheep came to the island.  Soay sheep are remnants of Neolithic times1; whether their introduction to the St Kildan islands occurred during the Stone Age or the Bronze Age2, we know that they have survived alone and unassisted in the harsh environment for millennia.