Sheep love New Zealand. The country has lots of soft grass, gentle hills, plenty of rain, and very few wild animals that could harm them. When European farmers first arrived in the 1800s, they brought sheep with them, and the sheep thrived. At one point there were about 22 sheep for every person.
There are lots of different breeds of sheep. Some are bred for their wool - thick, springy, perfect for making warm jumpers, blankets and even insulation in houses. Others are bred for milk or meat. The fluffy white sheep most children draw are usually a breed called Romney, which is very common in New Zealand.
Looking after sheep is a real skill. New Zealand farmers use clever working dogs - called sheepdogs - to round up the flocks. A good sheepdog can move hundreds of sheep across a field with whistles and quiet signals from the farmer. Some of the best sheepdog handlers in the world compete in special trials.
Sheep shearing - cutting off the wool once a year - is also a New Zealand speciality. A really skilled shearer can shear a single sheep in less than a minute, leaving the wool in one fluffy piece. The sheep walks off looking very surprised and quite a lot thinner.