Adult zebras stay in family groups throughout their life, with the exception of very old or sick stallions, who must avoid the other stallions. Adolescent mares, on reaching sexual maturity, form new families, or are received by other groups. The stallions form bachelor groups with other stallions until they assume leadership of their own family, whereupon they attempt to keep other stallions away. Should a stallion take leave of his group for a prolonged period, he will often find, on his return, that he has been replaced as head of the family by another. When the herd is dispersed by predators, family groups will come together again over a period of several days.
Foals seem to have little difficulty finding their mothers.
They can find their parent either by smell, or by recognizing subtle differences in the pattern of stripes.