Appaloosa

The Appaloosa is a popular riding horse in the U.S.A.. The distinctive markings of this breed are very carefully maintained; the skin must display one of six patterns.

The Appaloosa is descended from horses imported to America by the Spanish conquistadores in the 16th century. The breed was developed by the Nez Perće Indians of Northwest America and the name, Appaloosa is derived from the Palouse river which ran through the Indians' territory. The Nez Perće were one of  the first and certainly the most skillful Indian peoples to begin selective breeding. They established herds and by gelding or trading any horses that were not of the highest quality, maintained a standard. By the mid-1700s, the Nez Perće had established their herds and gained considerable reputation for their horses. They bred the Appaloosa not only for its attractive spotted markings, which were excellent camouflage, but also for its qualities of stamina, endurance, speed, and athleticism.

During the late 1800s, the Appaloosa was virtually eradicated when the U.S. army captured the Nez Perće Indians and slaughtered nearly all of their horses. In 1938, a group of breeders revived the breed using some of the descendants of the Indians' horses, and managed to re-establish the breed. The Appaloosa is closely related to the American Quarter Horse, both historically and genetically, and both breeds reflect similar influences. The Appaloosa Horse Club boasts over 400,00 registered horses and  continues to  grow in popularity.

The Appaloosa is characterized by its spotted coat, of which there are six acceptable configurations. These are known as : snowflake, leopard, frost, marble, spotted blanket, and white blanket. The basic coat color is mostly roan, apart from the leopard pattern, although any color is allowed as long as it displays one of  the six spot patterns. The Appaloosa has mottled skin around the nose, lips, and genitals, and often has white sclera round the eyes. They generally have a sparse mane and tail, and the hooves tend to display black and white vertical stripes. In conformation, the Appaloosa has a smallish head with a straight profile. They are long in the neck, which is muscular and set on to a deep chest with a sloping shoulder. The withers are moderately pronounced, and quarters rounded and muscular, and the back short and compact. The Appaloosa makes an excellent riding horse, being both docile and quiet, but also energetic. They have good stamina, and are naturally athletic. They stand at between 14 hh and 15.2 hh.

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