A total of six countries will make their Olympic and Paralympic equestrian debuts at Rio 2016 ©FEI

A total of six countries will make their Olympic and Paralympic equestrian debuts at Rio 2016, the sport’s governing body has announced after confirming the list of participating nations for this summer’s Games.

Chinese Taipei and Qatar are both set to participate in jumping for the first time at the Olympics, while the Dominican Republic and Palestine have qualified in the dressage discipline.

Zimbabwe will take part in their first-ever Olympic equestrian competition as they will compete in eventing and Uruguay will be sending its first Para-equestrian dressage athlete to the Paralympics.

Peru are also due to make history as they have secured their first individual qualification in the jumping event.

The equestrian events at the Rio 2016 Olympics begin with eventing on August 6 and conclude with the final day of jumping on August 19, with 43 nations due to compete across the Olympic disciplines during the Games.

Six days of Para-equestrian dressage will be held at the Paralympic Games, with competition taking place from September 11 to 16.

Thirty nations will be represented in the discipline.

All competitions are scheduled to take place at the Equestrian Centre on the Deodoro Olympic Park.

A total of 43 nations will compete across the Olympic equestrian disciplines
A total of 43 nations will compete across the Olympic equestrian disciplines ©Getty Images

“We are thrilled to be welcoming new nations to the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian family and to have 43 flags at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and 30 for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,” International Equestrian Federation (FEI) President Ingmar De Vos said.

 “It’s a testament to the increasing global appeal and universality of our sport to see equestrianism represented at the top level in so many countries.

“The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the pinnacle of our sport and we are looking forward to absolutely top class equestrian action during both Games.”

Concerns were raised about journey times between the course close to the Deodoro Olympic site and with the Athletes' Village in the main Olympic site in Barra de Tijuca, more than 20 kilometres to the south, particularly if the road is not improved before the Games begin.

The FEI also had to deal with issues relating to the outbreak of several cases of the highly infectious Glanders disease in Brazil, including several close to the proposed venue within the Deodoro venues cluster, last year.