History & OverviewSpotted horses have existed as far back as prehistoric times, often depicted in cave paintings. These spotted horses were thought to descend from ancient Persia and were bred in Spain starting in 100 AD. In the 16th century these spotted horses were taken to Mexico by Spanish conquistadors. At that time it is believed that some escaped and travelled across North America.
Many of these horses made it to what is now the north western United States, where they were captured by the Nez Perce Indians. The Nez Perce Indians bred these horses and selected for speed, strength and agility. They also focused on producing horses with a willing and compliant personality. It was at this point that the breed became known as "A Palouse" horse, because the Nez Perce Indians were located by the Palouse River. In 1877, the US army almost destroyed the Nez Perce Indian tribe and in the process captured many of their horses. The horses were carefully bred and over time the name transitioned to "Appaloosa". It wasn't until 1938 that the Appaloosa became a recognized breed. |