Appaloosa Horses

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Get to know a horse that’s widely known for its leopard spots. Aside from their leopard spots, they’re one of the most popular breeds in the United States. It was named as Idaho’s official state horse in 1975. It’s an ideal family horse that’s popularly known as the Appaloosa Horse.

Around 1700, the Nez Perce tribe lived in the eastern Washington and Oregon (as they are called). These places were perfect for horse-breeding which made them easily establish high quality horse breeds around 1750. Because of their success in horse breeding, they were known as notable horse breeders in the early 1800’s. During these times, the tribe bred solid- colored and some leopard-spotted horses. However, the horse’s population was threatened.

The Nez Perce War began in 1877 due to conflicting territorial issues between the tribe and the new settlers. The war began because there were settlers who wanted the tribe to give up much of their land. They used the Appaloosa horses during the battle.

The war was over when Chief Joseph said he would “fight no more forever”. The U.S. 7th Cavalry accepted his surrender. They took over 1,000 of the tribe’s horses. They sold the others while the others were shot to death. The cavalry feared these horses as weapons and so a 1935 federal law has prohibited the breeding of Appaloosa horses. But there were a few quality horses that were continually bred.

The white settlers called them as “Palouse horse” since they were bred by the Nez Perce tribe who lived in the Palouse River. From “Palouse”, the name evolved to “Apalouse” and then to “Appaloosa”. These horses were almost extinct. However, some visionary horsemen admired these horses’ beauty and athleticism. Through Claude Thompson, the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) was founded in 1938. From then on, the breed has grown and has become so popular in the U.S.

Appaloosaas have thirteen base colors and six color spotting patterns which may change as a natural result of aging. They stand between 14.2 and 16 hands. They have straight, strong legs with well formed hooves; strong, short backs; and long sloping shoulder.

Appaloosaas have been competing in all levels of the Western and English disciplines such as Dressage, Three Day Eventing, Endurance, Reining, Cutting, Working Cow Horse, Barrel Racing. They are also used in race tracks and pleasure trail riding.