Appaloosa Horse Breed Profile

Spotted horses have been around for millennia and one such breed the Appaloosa horse has been capturing the hearts of horse lovers for centuries. Besides their striking appearance Appaloosas are known for being gentle friendly and loyal companions. They tend to be very eager to please which makes them a great horse breed for equestrians of all experience levels.
Appaloosa History and Origins
Predecessors of the Appaloosa horse breed arrived in North America during the early 1600s with Spanish explorers. These horses made their way to the Northwest where Native Americans particularly the Nez Perce people appreciated the animals and began to breed them. Their strict breeding practices aimed to create a horse that was colorful tractable and intelligent. As war horses they also helped the Nez Perce during the Nez Perce War.

The breeds name likely relates to the Palouse River area where the Nez Perce lived. At first people referred to the breed as Palouse horses which later became Appaloosas.
The breed was almost lost during the late 1870s when the U S. government was attempting to take over Native American land. Some tribe members fled with their horses but many of these early Appaloosas were either stolen lost or killed.
During the 1930s interest in the breed grew once again and the few surviving horses created a new foundation for the breed. The Appaloosa Horse Club was created in 1938 as a breed registry presiding over the breeds resurgence. It has since become one of the largest horse breed registries in the world.
Appaloosa