9 Most Popular Horse Breeds

Andalusian Horse

An ancient breed, the Andalusian horse is mentioned in Homer's "The Iliad," and there are even cave paintings from 20,000 years ago that depict Andalusian-like steeds. They are exceptionally agile horses with physical capabilities that make them well-suited for dressage competition, an equestrian sport that displays the highest level of horse training. Most Andalusian horses are gray, but sometimes are found in other colors.

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Morgan Horse

Morgan horses can be traced back to a horse named Figure who lived in 18th-century Vermont with owner Justin Morgan. Figure was likely a mix of Arabian and Thoroughbred horses, and perhaps some other breeds. He combined strength and endurance with a calm demeanor and intelligence, a desirable mix of traits that was passed on to his descendants.

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Appaloosa Horse

The history of the Appaloosa is tied closely to the Nez Perce tribe of Native Americans. Horses imported from Mexico reached the Nez Perce people, who lived in what is now Washington, Oregon and Idaho, in the 18th century. The Nez Perce grew into excellent horse breeders, creatingstrong, intelligent horses with leopard spots. These were the first Appaloosas.

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Thoroughbred Horse

The term "thoroughbred" sometimes is used as a synonym for "purebred," but thoroughbreds are in fact a specific breed of horse. Extremely athletic animals, thoroughbreds are best known for theirubiquitousness in the sport of horse racing. Their speed and stamina has made them popular in other equestrian sports as well.

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Miniature Horse

Miniature horses have been around for hundreds of years, but their presence and development in the United States is relatively recent. The breed came to the States in the 1930s and for a few decades were used for working in coal mines. In the 1970s, registries for miniature horses began to establish them as a unique breed.

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paint-horse

American paint horses are known for and identified by their various pinto colorings and markings. The terms "paint" and "pinto" often are used interchangeably, but in fact, "paint" is a specific breed type, while "pinto" describes a type of color pattern that can occur in different breeds. Paint horses are regarded for their amiable personalities and intelligence.

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