Mário André Pinto, 32 years old, and his father José Mário Pinto dedicate much of their time to breeding Miranda donkeys among the meadows. These animals, which for centuries were indispensable to agricultural work, today survive thanks to the effort of about five hundred breeders spread across the country.
The history of this family with donkeys dates back to the grandfather, who always had a donkey or two to help with the fieldwork. The animals were crossed and used to open furrows, transport loads and work the land, in a time before the mechanization of small agricultural farms.
At a certain period, the family had sheep and cows, but ended up selling those animals and was left with only two or three crossed donkeys. The interest in the Miranda donkey arose later, during a family conversation.
Curiosity led Mário André Pinto to look for information about the breed, and quickly the family realized they were facing a unique heritage that deserved to be preserved.
