The Afghan hound originated in the region now known as Afghanistan, where they were bred to hunt. The Afghan hound is one of the most ancient dog breeds, with a history going back thousands of years. One legend even has it that it was a pair of Afghan hounds representing dogs on Noah’s Ark. Whatever their distant origins, the Afghan hound became a prized hunting companion for royals and aristocrats in the mountainous regions of central Asia. By the late 1800s, Afghan hounds were brought to Europe by British officers returning from duty abroad. The Afghan hound was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1926.