The Travels of Marco Polo
The sheep are named after the 13th century explorer Marco Polo because they were described in "The Travels of Marco Polo". The 1914 "Historical and Political Gazetteer of Afghanistan: Badakhshan" notes that in Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan the sheep are known locally as "nakhjipar". They are called "ra-ma-poy" in Wakhi, the language of natives of the Khunzerav region round the high Khunjerab Pass between Pakistan and China.