Appaloosa Horse

Appaloosa Horse is famous for its spotted coat color. The breed was developed in America, in the Nez Perce northwest Pacific region. However, there is a lot of evidence of spotted horses dating back from the Paleolithic era. Archeologists have discovered ancient paintings with leopard-colored horses depicted in them, belonging to ancient Roman arts, as well as the art of ancient Greece, Persia and China. A great deal of evidence dating back to the 11th century has also been found in France. Horses with this distinctive coat color enjoyed great popularity among European nobilities in the 1800s.

In is uncertain how these horses arrived on the American continent. Chances are, a few species were brought there in the early 1500s by Spanish Conquistadors. Eventually, by the turn of the 18th century, the breed fell into the hands of the Nez Perce people, who made a wealthy contribution to the development of the breed. By trading off inferior species, they purified the breeding stock and thus created a unique horse breed with a clearly defined gene pool. Most probably, Appaloosa Horses get their name from the Palouse River that ran across the region. The Nez Perce war that took place in 1877 resulted in the Nez Perce people escaping their land and then killed in battles. The Appaloosa breed fell into decline for decades to come.

Revitalization came in 1937, when some people became interested in the horse. In 1938, a group of enthusiasts headed by Claude Thompson founded the Appaloosa Horse club. In order to boost the breed’s genetic makeup, which might have been undermined over the years of oblivion, the breeders used the Arabian gene. Later, Thoroughbreds and American Quarter Horses were involved in breeding programs.

Today, the Appaloosa breed is still conspicuous by its characteristic spotty coat color. However, the coloring is quite diverse. Appaloosa Horses come in different base colors, including dun, grullo, bay, chestnut, buckskin, palomino and gray. Spot patterns can be different too. The Appaloosa Horse Club recognizes five distinct spot patterns: Blanket, Leopard, Few Spot Leopard, Varnish Roan, Snowflake and Frost.

Appaloosa Horses of today have muscular bodies, probably due to the American Quarter Horse influence. They are used in short distance and quarter mile racing competitions. Some Appaloosa Horses have leaner bodies and longer legs, and they can be used in middle-length riding contests. The Appaloosa Horse of today is a unique equine breed that has proven effective both in recreation activities and ranch work.