9 American Horse Breeds

While breeding horse originated in Europe and Asia, there are 9 American Horse Breeds that have been selected and developed specifically in the United States.

Europe is not the only continent in the world with different breeds of horses, but America too, as well as parts of Asia.

In the United States alone, you can find many different breeds of horses and horse lovers.

The most common horse breeds in the United States are Mustangs (Wild Horses), American Paint Horse, Tennessee Walker Horse, Arabian, Morgan (used during the American Civil war), Thoroughbred, 18th century Narragansett Pacer, Nez Perce (American Indian horse), and American Quarter Horse.

When looking to buy your first horse to own, a great breed is a factor to consider, and America has some of the best!

Each breed that you will find has different desirable traits and characteristics.

In fact, you might be surprised that some are better in one area while others are better in different areas!

Make sure to check out these other posts:

• Spotted Horse Breeds
• Native American Horse Names
• Grey Horse Names

So, if you are considering purchasing an American horse breed, consider these factors, as well as your riding style.

Here is a list of popular American horse breeds that might match your preferences.

Regular American Horse Breeds

Quarter Horse

The American quarter horse is another light horse for endurance riding.

This breed has the largest breed registry in the world, and it is so valuable that the people of Texas formed an international organization called the American Quarter Horse Association.

It was developed to preserve this large breed.

Arabian Horse

The Arabian horse is a popular breed originating from the Arabian Peninsula.

He is known for his beauty and endurance and is one of the oldest breeds in the world.

This breed of horse was loved by breeders as it was bred with other horses to improve speed, beauty, stamina, and bone strength, suitable for trail riding.

This is also one of the reasons why the Arabian can be found in most of the riding horse breeds that exist today.

Much like a thoroughbred horse, the Arabian is generally considered a “gait-less” horse, however, this breed can be trained to learn a comfortable trail gait.

Appaloosa Horse

Another good breed is the Appaloosa horse, which originated in North America.

The Appaloosa is easily known due to its unusual spots, reminding us of the Dalmatian dog breed.

This lightweight horse is known to be an intelligent horse, which makes it useful for hiking, jumping, western fun, and more.

Due to their intelligent nature, Appaloosas know how to deal with the humans they deal with.

Unlike other races, Appaloosa can realize whether or not they are being treated well and can give the same respect to the humans they deal with.

This attitude of the Appaloosa also makes them known to be hardworking and loyal to their humans.

Tennessee Walking Horse

The Tennessee Walking Horse is another American breed of horse known to be gentle, easy to handle and keep, and able to handle different disciplines wonderfully.

The Tennessee Walker belongs to a “gait race” with its unique gaits – flat walking and walking.

With their beautiful, smooth gait, these horses are perfect for trekking.

Riding long distances can be strenuous, but with their easy gait, you get a smoother ride.

Although primarily used in the ranch, these horses could also attract attention in the ring.

Other Breeds

Two beautiful American breeds are the Missouri Fox Trotter and the Morgan horse.

Another large, light horse is the Paso fino which is native to South America.

The American saddle horse or the American saddle horse is yet another beautiful light horse from the United States, known for its multiple gaits.

Another light horse that has the ability to carry its rider long distances without feeling tired is the Peruvian Paso native to Peru.

Most light horses are great for endurance riding like Arabian Horse, Morgan Horse, English Thoroughbred, 19th century American Mustang, Tennessee Walking Horse and curly horses like the new breeds American bashkir curly.

The Missouri Fox Trotter is also great at endurance.

As much as horses are used for these walks, horse enthusiasts also enjoy horse racing.

Some horse races include harness racing and barrel racing.

There are different types of riding horses, including gait horses, cattle horses, stock horses, and ponies.

Draft Horse Breeds

Other recognizable horse breeds are draft horse breeds.

Horses of this type are excellent for helping on farms, especially for carrying heavy loads.

Draft horses are also good riding companions.

They are also excellent when it comes to the show ring, whether it is Western riding or English riding.

These horses are strong enough to lift more than twice their own weight, which is almost unheard of.

They are ideal for plowing and plowing as well as for dragging carts, logs, and tractors stuck in the dirt.

Two of the most well-known breeds of draft horses are the American Cream and the Belgian.

American Cream Draft

The American Cream Draft Horse is known to be the only breed of draft horse developed in the United States.

Indeed, this breed of American horse is remarkably attractive, but there are more reasons for this breed to attract people’s attention.

This horse is best known for its obedient disposition, relaxed demeanor, and skills as a beast of burden.

These horses can usually be seen in carriages and on small farms.

The American Cream Draft gets their beautiful cream color from a gene that is distinctly in their breed.

Horses of these breeds do not come in large numbers as this breed is critically endangered.

These calm horses have a really gentle disposition, which has earned them the nickname “gentle giants”.

American Cream is a color breed, which means it is registered based on its color – cream.

Belgian Draft

The Belgian draft horse has descendants from medieval times.

This horse is a magnificent breed, being one of the most powerful horse breeds around.

The Belgian Drafts we see today were first seen in the late 1800s.

Truly a beauty to behold, the Belgian draft is the breed of the current largest horse that has ever lived.

The Belgians are distinguished by their strong and muscular body, their elegant head and neck, and their generally light, sorrel, or roan coat.

Today, Belgian ladies are valued for being a versatile breed, to be able to switch from working on the farm, logging, or driving teams, to showing off beautifully in horse riding and driving shows.

American Horse Breeds – Ponies

Other popular horse breeds form another category of horses: ponies.

These small horses are classified in a different category due to their small size, which is why this breed is also called an American miniature horse.

As adults, these horses reach a height of 14.2 hands (or less).

Unlike horses, ponies don’t need a lot of physical activity due to their calmer demeanor.

Ponies are different from miniature horses in that miniature horses are more used for a single pleasure and can only carry children.

Two popular horses of this breed are the Welsh pony and the American Shetland pony.

Welsh Pony

The Welsh pony is part of the Welsh breed.

It has four types, including the Welsh Mountain Pony (section A), the Welsh Pony (section B), the Welsh Pony of Cob Type (section C) and the Welsh Cob (section D).

Each type of this breed is suitable for each type of rider.

These ponies are the result of a great battle with humans and nature.

Their history with nature has helped them to become tough and quite adaptable.

The Welsh Pony and Spikes were trained to be a versatile breed.

They have proven their great help on the farm, during the late 1700s war, for hunting and even commercially in harnesses.

These horses are also good at running and jumping.

Shetland Pony

The Shetland pony is a strong, intelligent and gentle horse.

This breed is generally the horses used for beginners to learn to ride.

Although they are considered small horses, these horses are no joke when they talk about work.

These ponies can outperform even the strongest draft horses due to their hardy nature.

Despite their small size, these Shetland ponies can live up to 30 years.

Conclusion:

If you are looking for an American bred horse, these are just a few of the great horse breeds that exist.

Whether you are reading this because you want to own horses, join equestrian competitions, or just want to learn more about horse breeds, I hope this article has helped you learn a bit more about them.