Moel horses or toy horses are scale replicas of real horses and are highly collectible. Model horses can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age or gender, although the vast majority of collectors are women. The hobby originated more or less simultaneously - but independently - in North America and the UK, followed later by Sweden (UK-influenced), Germany (US-influenced) and Australia. The hobby encompasses a wide variety of activities, from those who simply like to collect to those who enthusiastically show their models at model horse shows. Unlike many model cars or model trains, the horses do not need to be assembled from kits, although they can be altered to the collector's liking.