Appaloosa Horse

Tradition, romance and ancient history are entwined in the gallop of the Appaloosa horse – a unique breed marked for its leopard spots and distinctive colour. The horse was bred by the Nez Perce tribe of American Indians on the Pacific northwest of the continent White immigrants called them Palouse horse from the name of Palouse river running through the heart of the Nez Perce region.

In France has been found Paleolithic cave paintings of the spotted horse. Evidence of these domesticated horses can be traced back to ancient Persia, Greece and China during the Tang dynasty. In 11th century France the horse again reappeared. It is uncertain how the Appaloosa horse made its way into the Americas. It may have been the Spanish Conquistadors or Russian fur traders – but nothing can be said for surety except that it reached the Pacific Northwest around the 18th century.

The Nez Perce was famed horse breeders and they got the original ones from the Shoshone tribe. Latest archeological findings however show that the lives of the Appaloosa and the Nez Perce tribe were linked from ancient times when the glaciers began to recede in North America. To the Nez Perce the horse was a symbol of pride and wealth as well as speed.

When the Nez Perce were defeated by the invading 7th cavalry of US on 5th October 1877 the victors confiscated 1,000 Appaloosa horses, sold some and shot the others. Some tribesmen managed to retreat with few horses, other animals strayed and escaped and the grim story ended with the settling of the American Indians in a Reservation north of Idaho. They were allowed to keep only a few for purposes of breeding for the army. For more than half a century the breed was forgotten. Few survived as ranch horses.

In 1937 some articles published in a horse magazine drew attention of animal lovers and in 1938 the Appaloosa Horse Club came into existence. An exclusive museum was founded in 1975 to keep alive the history of this majestic animal. Today it is America’s most popular breed and more than 670,000 are registered. Idaho adopted it as its official state horse.

Since 1995 the Nez Perce are once more engaged in a breeding operations. Cross breeding with the Appaloosa of Central Asia known as Akhal-Teke is being programmed. US health and human services department are funding the scheme.

The Appaloosa generally have coloured spots, mottled skin around the eyes and muzzle and white sclera round the blue or hazel eyes. Ears may be of different colours. The mane and tail were either sparse or full – there not being any general standard. Today the rat-tail is out of fashion but the love affair between man and beast continues.

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