동방견문록
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.