Types of Horse Breeds
The Miniature Horse is a breed of small equines that developed in parts of the European continent and was later imported to the US. They are much known for their short stature, cute looks, and are kept both as ornamental pets as well as for horse shows.
The American Paint Horse is a breed of horse that combines both the conformational characteristics of a western stock horse with a pinto spotting pattern of white and dark coat colors. Developed from a base of spotted horses with Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred bloodlines, the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) breed registry is now one of the largest in North America.
American Quarter Horse, one of the oldest recognized breeds of horses in the United States. The breed originated about the 1660s as a cross between native horses of Spanish origin used by the earliest colonists and English horses imported to Virginia from about 1610.
The American Saddlebred is a horse breed from the United States. This breed was referred to as the "Horse America Made". Descended from riding-type horses bred at the time of the American Revolution, the American Saddlebred includes the Narragansett Pacer, Canadian Pacer, Morgan and Thoroughbred among its ancestors.
The Spanish horse was known as Andalusian, Estremenjo, or Castillian, depending on the region where it was bred, but "Andalusian" became a synonym for the Spanish horse, arguably because it was in the Andalucia region where the best ones were bred. Today, this breed is known as "Pura Raza Espanola" (PRE), meaning "Pure Spanish Breed".
The Appaloosa is an American horse breed best known for its colorful spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history.
Arabian Horse Breed History It is thought that the Arabian Horse is the oldest horse breed on the planet, as it originated over 4,500 years ago on the Arabian peninsula. In fact, it is believed that these horses were first domesticated from wild horses in the Middle East around 2500 B.C.
The Banker horse is a breed of feral horse (Equus ferus caballus) living on barrier islands in North Carolina's Outer Banks. It is small, hardy, and has a docile temperament.
Barb Horse Breed History. It is believed that the Barb Horse, which is also known as the Berber Horse, originated from northern Africa’s coastal region, which used to be referred to as the Barbary Coast.
The Belgian draft horse or the Belgian horse is an equine breed originating in the Brabant region of the present-day Belgium. Its tall and massive stature makes it one of the strongest breeds of the world widely used for work also gaining immense popularity as riding and show horses.
The Breton is a breed of draft horse. It was developed in Brittany, a province in northwest France, from native ancestral stock dating back thousands of years. The Breton was created through the crossbreeding of many different European and Oriental breeds. In 1909, a stud book was created, and in 1951 it was officially closed.
Australian Brumby History. Australia’s first horses arrived here in 1788. Irregular shipments followed that initial cargo. Because of the conditions the horses lived under, only the fittest survived.
The Camargue horse is an ancient breed of horse indigenous to the Camargue area in southern France. Its origins remain relatively unknown, although it is generally considered one of the oldest breeds of horses in the world.
The Canadian horse is a horse breed from Canada. It is a strong, well-muscled breed of horse, usually dark in colour. The horses are generally used for riding and driving. Descended from draft and light riding horses imported to Canada in the late 1600s, it was later crossed with other British and American breeds.
The Clydesdale is a breed of draft horse named for and derived from the farm horses of Clydesdale, a county in Scotland. Although originally one of the smaller breeds of draught horses, it is now a tall breed.
Criollo Horse Breed Article and Photos Copyrighted - see credits below The Criollo horse became only really known beyond its homeland through the famous ride by Swiss Aim Tschiffely with two Criollos from Buenos Aires to New York City.
Cumberland Island Horse The Cumberland Island Horse, as the name suggests, is a group of free-roaming and unmanaged feral horses native to the Cumberland Island of the American state of Georgia. Since this is a band of feral animals, they are not provided with any food or veterinary treatment.
Dartmoor Pony Breed History The Dartmoor Pony is from Devon, which is a county that is found in the southwestern part of England. The pony got its name from a wild portion of moorland that is called Dartmoor.
A Dutch Warmblood is a warmblood type of horse registered with the Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland (Royal Warmblood Studbook of the Netherlands (KWPN), which governs the breeding of competitive dressage and show jumping horses, as well as the show harness horse and Gelderlander, and a hunter studbook in North America.
The Exmoor pony is a horse breed native to the British Isles, where some still roam as semi-feral livestock on Exmoor, a large area of moorland in Devon and Somerset in southwest England. The Exmoor has been given "endangered" status by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and "threatened" status by The Livestock Conservancy.
The Falabella miniature horse is one of the smallest breeds of horse in the world, seldom taller than 8 hands (32 inches, 81 cm) in height at the withers. The Falabella, despite its size, is not considered a pony, but rather is a miniature horse
The Freiberger is the official horse of Switzerland, where it developed, and can be both slim and heavy, depending on the genetic makeup. This is a light draft horse suited for both pleasure riding and draught work and is prized for its outstanding versatility in almost all fields.
The Friesian (also Frizian) is a horse breed originating in Friesland, in the Netherlands. Although the conformation of the breed resembles that of a light draught horse, Friesians are graceful and nimble for their size.
The Garrano Pony, also called Minho, or Tres os Montes - is a Portuguese pony breed whose origins are unclear. It may be native, representing the southernmost local form of the primeval pony that once roamed over most of western and northern Europe.
The Gypsy Horse is a small-sized draft horse that was first bred by the Romanichals (Gypsies) of Great Britain. Its strong muscular figure with the structure of legs is well suited to pulling activities.
The Haflinger, also known as the Avelignese, is a breed of horse developed in Austria and northern Italy (namely Hafling in South Tyrol region) during the late nineteenth century. Haflinger horses are relatively small, are always chestnut with flaxen mane and tail, have distinctive gaits described as energetic but smooth, and are well-muscled yet elegant.
For generations, the Hanoverian horse has been recognized as one of the most prominent and successful breeds of riding horses in the world today. The breed originated in northern Germany in the state of Lower Saxony, the former kingdom of Hannover, where a flourishing horse-breeding industry has existed for 400 years.
The Holsteiner is a breed of horse originating in the Schleswig-Holstein region of northern Germany. It is thought to be the oldest of warmblood breeds, tracing back to the 13th century.
The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse developed in Iceland. Although the horses are small, at times pony-sized, most registries for the Icelandic refer to it as a horse. Icelandic horses are long-lived and hardy.
The Kaimanawa horse is a group of wild horses that evolved from domestic equines released in the Kaimanawa mountain range, North Island, during the 19th century. Because of their supposedly declining population in the 20th century, the New Zealand government now controls their numbers and protects their habitat.
The Kiger mustang's legs and feet are sound and durable. The cannon bones are usually on the long side, and the movements are that of the Iberian horse, with considerable knee action. The Kiger mustang HMA is hilly and rocky, and demands a sure-footed horse, with tough hooves. The Kiger's hoof walls are extremely thick.
The Konik is a Polish horse breed descending from very hardy horses from the Biłgoraj region. These horses had a predominantly dun colour, but also black and chestnut horses were present in the population.
The Lipizzan International Federation (LIF) is the international governing organization for the breed, composed of many national and private organizations representing the Lipizzan. The organizations work together under the banner of the LIF to promote the breed and maintain standards.
The Lusitano, also known as the Pure Blood Lusitano or PSL (Puro Sangue Lusitano), is a Portuguese horse breed, closely related to the Spanish Andalusian horse. Both are sometimes called Iberian horses, as the breeds both developed on the Iberian peninsula, and until the 1960s they were considered one breed, under the Andalusian name.
The Mangalarga Marchador is a horse breed native to Brazil. There are over 350,000 registered Mangalarga Marchador horses in that country, in addition to those registered abroad. An Iberian breed descended from Portuguese Lusitano stallions and Barb mares, they are valued for their beauty, intelligence, disposition and smooth gaits.
And Mongolian horses are also linked to Scandinavian breeds, as well as horses from Iceland, the British Isles, and Central Europe, with the Icelandic Horse being quite similar to the Mongolian, as an example.
The Morgan horse is one of the earliest horse breeds developed in the United States.
The Mustang is a feral horse found now in the western United States. The name Mustang comes from the Spanish word mesteño or monstenco meaning wild or stray. Originally these were Spanish horses or their descendants but over the years they became a mix of numerous breeds.
The Namib Desert Horse is a rare feral horse found in the Namib Desert of Namibia, Africa.It is probably the only feral herd of horses residing in Africa, with a population ranging between 90 and 150. The Namib Desert Horse is athletic in appearance, resembling the European light riding horses from which it probably descends, and usually dark in color.
The Nokota horse is a feral and semi-feral horse breed located in the badlands of southwestern North Dakota in the United States.
The Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Huisne river valley in western France, part of the former Perche province from which the breed takes its name. Usually gray or black in color, Percherons are well muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work.
Every purebred Peruvian horse has the inherited gait, which is the trademark of the Peruvian breed. In recent years, the world's horsemen have begun to rediscover the pleasures of naturally gaited horses; and horse fanciers from many nations are turning to the Peruvian Paso horse as the ideal mount for the twentieth century horsemen.
Like all pony breeds, the Shetland Pony a very small horse. In fact, this breed is considered the smallest pony in Britain. This pony features a broad head that is small, a face that is slightly dished, small ears, and eyes that are widely set.
The American Shire Horse Association was established in 1885 to register and promote the breed. The Shire soon became popular in the United States, and almost 4,000 Shires were imported between 1900 and 1918. Approximately 6,700 Shires were registered with the US association between 1909 and 1911.
Sorraia Also Known By: Marismeño (Spain) The Sorraia horse has no history as a domestic breed, but is the last remnant of the indigenous wild horse of southern Iberia.
The Spanish Mustang is an American horse breed descended from horses brought from Spain during the early conquest of the Americas. They are classified within the larger grouping of the Colonial Spanish horse, a type that today is rare in Spain.
Standardbred, breed of horse developed in the United States in the 19th century and used primarily for harness racing. The foundation sire of this breed was the English Thoroughbred Messenger (1780–1808), imported to the United States in 1788.
The Tennessee Walking Horse is the first breed to bear a state name. From a smooth-riding trail mount to a high-powered show horse, the Tennessee Walking Horse wears many hats. It began as a hardy utility horse and later became famous under the bright lights of the show ring.
Horses of this type can be show horses, race horses, ranch horses, and rodeo competitors. They are also very popular as family horses, particularly in the United Sates. In fact, the American Quarter Horse is the most popular of all horse breeds in this region.
Trakehner is a light warmblood breed of horse, originally developed at the East Prussian state stud farm in the town of Trakehnen from which the breed takes its name.