Are the wild horses in north American direct descendants of fossil on this continent?

The answer is no, wild horses in North America are not direct descendants of fossil horses on this continent.

Here's why:

* Extinction: Horses went extinct in North America around 10,000 years ago, likely due to climate change and the arrival of humans.

* Reintroduction: The wild horses we see today are descendants of horses brought to the Americas by European colonists, primarily in the 15th and 16th centuries. These horses escaped or were intentionally released, and their descendants have thrived in various environments.

* Fossil Records: While North America was once home to a diverse array of horse species, they are distinct from modern horses. The fossil record shows a gradual evolution of horses, leading to the modern horse, *Equus caballus*. However, this evolution happened primarily in Eurasia.

So, while North America has a rich history of horses, the wild horses we see today are descendants of horses introduced by humans, not the ancient horses that once roamed the continent.