When Did Sheep First Arrive in North America?

1493 – Christopher Columbus brought the first sheep to the Americas on his second voyage, landing them on La Isabela, Hispaniola (present-day Dominican Republic/Haiti).

Spread

• 1500s: Spanish colonists spread sheep through Caribbean, Mexico, Peru.
• 1540: Coronado expedition brought sheep into present-day US Southwest (Arizona/New Mexico).
• 1607: Jamestown colonists brought sheep to Virginia.
• 1609: Henry Hudson's crew may have left sheep in New York area.
• 1620s: Plymouth/Puritan settlements imported British breeds.

Breeds

Early imports: Churra (Spanish, coarse wool), Merino (fine wool, later), Southdown, Leicester, Cotswold (British). Foundation for US sheep industry.

Native North America had no wild sheep south of Alaska—bighorn/thinhorn in Rockies/Sierra only.