Breed history
Like the Paint Horse or the Quarter Horse, the Appaloosa comes from horses introduced to the American continent by the Spanish Conquistadors.
Indeed, in the early 1700s, horses arrived in North America on the territory of the Nez-Percé Indians, who selected and raised the first Appaloosa horses. The qualities sought were then power, endurance, and speed. The Indians also appreciated horses with colorful coats with few hairs. However, it was not until the end of the 19th century that the name Appaloosa made its appearance on the Palouse River.
In 1877, the Indian leader Chief Joseph lost a war resulting in capturing the herd of horses from the Nez-Percé tribe, which were then left in the wild or sold.
At the beginning of the 20th century, breed enthusiasts began looking for the descendants of horses selected by the Nez-Percés. The latter had similar coat color, bone structure, hardiness, and horsehair characteristics.
The breed’s Stud-Book and the Appaloosa Horse Club (the organization responsible for managing the breed) were founded in 1938 in Idaho. In addition, new blood contributions are made to improve the Appaloosa thanks to the Quarter Horse, Morgan, Thoroughbred English, and Purebred Arabian.
