The Thoroughbred originated in Britain in the mid-17th century from the crossbreeding of English mares and Oriental stallions. Three of these stallions - Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian, and Godolphin Arabian - gave rise to the three great bloodlines from which all Thoroughbreds descend. They are also the ancestors of the four best stallions of the 18th century - Matchem (Godolphin Arabian), Herod (Byerley Turk), Highflyer (Byerley Turk), and Eclipse (Darley Arabian) - themselves at the origin of almost all the current Thoroughbreds.