A horse like no other
Unlike any other breed of horse, the Appaloosa's colour, temperament, versatility and phenomenal athletic prowess have destined it to be different. Those who ride an Appaloosa will tell you there is little it can't do, and not much it won't.

The History of the Appaloosa

The Appaloosa's heritage is as colourful and unique as its coat pattern. Humans have recognised and appreciated the spotted horse throughout history. Ancient cave drawings as far back as 20,000 years ago in what is now France depict spotted horses, as do detailed images in Asian and 17th century Chinese art.

The Spanish introduced horses to North America as they explored the American continents. Eventually, as these horses found their way into the lives of Indians and were traded to other tribes, their use spread until most native American populations in the Northwest were mounted (c 1710).

The Nez Perce of Washington, Oregon and Idaho became especially sophisticated horsemen, and their mounts - which included many spotted individuals - were prized and envied by other tribes. Historians believe they were the first tribe to breed selectively for specific traits - intelligence and speed - keeping the best animals and trading away those less desirable.

When white settlers came to the Northwest Palouse region, they called the spotted horses "Palouse horses" or "a Palouse horse". Over time, the name was shortened and slurred to "Appalousey" and finally "Appaloosa". During the Nez Perce War of the late 1800s, Appaloosa horses helped the Nez Perce avoid battles and elude the US Cavalry for several months. The tribe fled over 1,300 miles of rugged, punishing terrain under the guidance of the famed Chief Joseph.

When they were defeated in Montana, their surviving horses were surrendered to soldiers, left behind or dispersed to settlers. This had a devastating effect on the breed, which was dying out until 1938, when the Appaloosa Horse Club was formed in the USA for the preservation and improvement of the diminishing spotted horse. Since that time, the breed has not only recovered, but has become one of the world's most popular and widely used.

The Appaloosa in New Zealand

What is a registered Appaloosa?
A registered Appaloosa has a traceable pedigree, is on record with the breed association and has an endorsed registration certificate to prove it. The association can tell you its name, parentage, date of birth, colour, brands and identifying characteristics so that you as a buyer (or seller) can be confident that the Appaloosa in question is what it is represented to be. You also know that the horse has met the minimum standards for Appaloosa registration in New Zealand.
The official breed registry is the Appaloosa Horse Association of New Zealand. You'll find their comprehensive web site at www.appaloosaassn.co.nz complete with plenty of information about the breed, registration, annual and lifetime awards for competitive horses and riders and much more.

Outstanding quality
There can be no doubting the quality of the New Zealand Appaloosa, whose representatives have to date helped New Zealand riders rise to world class and Olympic standard in dressage and eventing. Sometimes thought of as 'only' a western horse, the Appaloosa has proved time and again that nothing could be further from the truth! The infinitely talented Broadcast News, a Te Awamutu bred solid coloured Appaloosa, took the F.E.I.'s Eventing Horse of the World title in 1998, proving his dominance beyond question, and in 2003 I'm Sunday's Silhouette was pre-selected for the NZ Athens Olympics team in dressage. This Auckland bred mare is thought to be the world's first Appaloosa to reach this level.

Keeping the colour
Some breeds and colour patterns disrupt Appaloosa colour and are disallowed by the New Zealand breed registry for that reason. For example, the grey gene is dominant over others, so when an Appaloosa is crossed with a grey and the resulting foal carries the grey gene, any Appaloosa colour will fade as the horse ages.

The coat patterns of Pintos and Paints indicate colour-producing genes of a completely different type and can co-exist with Appaloosa colour. This cross is also disallowed.