New Zealand has continued its 50 year tradition of gifting a white horse to Japan.

Photo: steing/123RF

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced the gift today at the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, 150km north of the capital Tokyo.

The sacred white horse, named Kōmaru, represents the enduring relationship between New Zealand and Japan.

A framed photograph of Kōmaru was gifted to the shrine's chief priest today and the horse will be sent to Japan later this year.

The white 10-year-old purebred Andalusian will replace the previous white horse, Kōtuku, which died last year.

The tradition began when in 1964, following the Tokyo Olympics, a horse was gifted to the Japan Equestrian Association, which transferred him to the Nikko Tōshōgū Shrine.

Following the death of the first horse, another was gifted, and the tradition has continued since.

Kōmaru will be visited by thousands of people each year at the shrine where he will live in a spacious stable.