How are zebras classified?

Zebras are members of the horse family, Equidae, and of the genus Equus. Their nearest living relatives are horses and donkeys. More distant relatives in the order Perissodactyla include tapirs and rhinos.

There are three living species of zebra: the Grevy's zebra, the mountain zebra and the plains zebra. All zebras have black and white stripes covering their bodies, a pattern that makes it difficult for a predator to pick out an individual animal from a herd. The stripes may also discourage biting flies. Zebras have not been domesticated in numbers but have sometimes been trained for riding or driving. They are common in zoos around the world.