 Origin: United States (California)
Origin: United States, California
Distribution: United States – small flocks held by very few breeders
Uses: Meat and wool
Status: Critical
The Santa Cruz sheep come from a very diverse background. It is believed they are descended from several breeds including Merino, Rambouillet and Churro. They evolved on Santa Cruz Island off the coast of California in a feral state for at least the past seventy years. When they first arrived on the island is still unclear – it is believed that a flock was left to run feral on the island once sheep operations on the island closed.
In 1980 the Nature Conservancy and American Livestock Breeds Conservancy cooperated to remove the sheep from the island due to their damaging effect on the island’s ecosystem.
At this point it is estimated there are less than 150 sheep remaining in several small flocks throughout the United States. They are light-weight, black or white, horned or polled and are known to shed their wool if not shorn. Like many feral breeds they have less wool on their face, legs and underbellies, are very hardy and thrive on forage. Santa Cruz have also developed selected traits such as the wool-less “rat tail” to help them survive without human contact on the island.
The ALBC has determined their status to be critical and they are in need of more involved breeders to prevent imminent extinction. | 
