 The quagga is believed to have been around 257 cm ( 8 ft 5 in ) long and 125 – 135 cm ( 4 ft 1 in – 4 ft 5 in ) tall at the shoulder . It was distinguished from other zebras by its limited pattern of primarily brown and white stripes , mainly on the front part of the body . The rear was brown and without stripes , and therefore more horse @-@ like . The distribution of stripes varied considerably between individuals . Little is known about the quagga 's behaviour , but it may have gathered into herds of 30 – 50 individuals . Quaggas were said to be wild and lively , yet were also considered more docile than Burchell 's zebra . They were once found in great numbers in the Karoo of Cape Province and the southern part of the Orange Free State in South Africa . 
