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Country of Origin: North America
Use today: Today, Appaloosas can be found at gaming events, horse
shows and on the trail.
Color: With coat patterns, countless numbers of color and pattern
combinations exist.
Height: 14.2 to 16 hands
Profile: The Spanish introduced horses to Mexico in the 1500s,
and spotted horses have been depicted in images as far back as
prehistoric cave paintings. However, it wasn’t until the 1700s when
horses first reached Northwest America that horses with Appaloosa
coloring gained recognition in the United States. The Nez Perce
tribe of American Indians helped propel this recognition.
Originally sedentary fishers, the Nez Perce tribe soon discovered
the mobility and power that horses could bring. With their
yet-unnamed Appaloosa horses, they soon became notorious for their
hunting skills and craftsmanship. In reference to the Palouse River
nearby, settlers began referring to the spotted Nez Perce horses as
“a Palouse Horse,” later “Palousey,” “Appalousey” and eventually
“Appaloosa.” The Nez Perce war of 1877 resulted in the Appaloosa
herds being dispersed throughout the West. The Appaloosa horses’
flashy coats soon caught the eye of the public, and they grew in
popularity. The Appaloosa Horse Club was chartered in 1938 to
preserve and improve the Appaloosa breed. In 1975, the Appaloosa
horse was officially named the Idaho state horse. Today, Appaloosas
can be found at gaming events, horse shows and on the trail.
Characteristics: Appaloosa horses are known for four
identifiable characteristics: coat pattern, mottled skin, white
sclera and striped hooves. With coat patterns, countless numbers of
color and pattern combinations exist. Base coat colors include bay,
brown, black, buckskin, grulla, dun, palomino, cremello/perlino,
chestnut, bay roan, blue roan and red roan. Appaloosa coat patterns
include leopard, snowflake, blanket, marbleized and frost.
Appaloosas range from 14.2 to 16 hands high.