Humans have a long history of eating horse meat, and it’s still eaten around the world for the most part except in countries like the U.S., U.K, Canada, and Australia. Horse meat is popular around the world, so why is it still so taboo in English-speaking countries?

Whether it’s basashi in Japan, jerky in South America, or thinly-sliced lunch meat in Northern Europe, humans have eaten horse meat for about 10,000 years, and continue to do so. One of the earliest examples of folks rejecting horse meat comes from Jewish people, whose kosher laws forbid the consumption of this animal.

Aside from kosher restrictions, most people think of horses as pets, helpers, or athletes rather than livestock, making them reluctant to try horse meat. Additionally, in the United States, specifically, killing horses for Americans to eat isn’t legal, meaning that the sweet, lean, and soft meat is strictly off menu.