The Brooke, the world’s largest international equine welfare charity, has announced that Emily Marquez-Dulin was selected as executive director for the American division, Brooke USA.

Marquez-Dulin will work to advance Brooke USA’s objective to introduce donors in the United States to its mission to alleviate the suffering of working horses, donkeys, and mules in the world’s poorest countries.

At least 100 million working equids are the engines that power the developing world, doing the hardest jobs under the toughest conditions to support the livelihoods of 600 million people—9% of the world’s population. The Brooke works to improve the lives of those animals in communities where people often earn less than one dollar a day.

“This is another milestone in our charity’s 81-year history,” said Petra Ingram, chief executive of the Brooke. “Last year we reached 1.5 million equines in 11 of the world’s poorest countries. We have ambitious plans to significantly increase involvement from U.S. supporters to help us reach even more animals and owners in parts of the world where no other help is available to them