Icelandic Sheep

September 2025 -- Sheep and horses dominate the Icelandic landscape. In fact, it wouldn't be Iceland if you didn't see them. In Iceland, there are more people than sheep, about 800,000 during the summer months. The number drops to about 500,000 after lambs are sold in the fall.

There is only one breed of sheep raised in Icelandic, aptly named Icelandic. In fact, it is forbidden to import sheep into Iceland, making Icelandic sheep one of the world’s oldest and purest breeds of sheep. Icelandics belong to the Northern European Short-tailed group of sheep, but are larger than most breeds in the group, e.g. Shetland, Romanov, and Finnsheep.

Five in a row

Sheep production in Iceland is a dichotomy. From May to September, sheep graze on communal lands. They are naturally free range and there are no significant predators to harm them. In September, the sheep are gathered into pens, sorted, and transported to their home farms. The dichotomy: Because of the harsh Icelandic weather, farmers are legally required to shelter their sheep in the winter and feed them.