The history of the American Indian Horse is as long as it is colorful. It is a widely held belief that the Spanish brought the horse to the new world in the 1500s. A mixture of Barb, Arabian and Andalusian blood, they were considered the best horse in the world at that time.

The horse played a major role in the conquest of Mexico by Cortez, and although it was illegal at one time for the Indians to own horses, they eventually acquired these fine steeds, and it changed their lives forever. Acquisition of the horse made it possible for the Indians to become nomadic hunters whose society was built around the ability of these magical creatures.

As a tribute to their hardiness and aptitude, one of the colorful episodes in the career of the Indian Horse was the gathering of the wild Longhorn cattle off the Texas ranges after the War between the States. They swam every river from Texas to Canada, enduring stampedes, tornadoes, hailstorms and freezing blizzards. This feat they performed while foraging on grass and brush without grain. Many of these horses were not much larger than the cattle they drove.

In their attempts to conquer the Indians, the U.S. Cavalry found the only way to effectively control them was to take away their horses. Instances of complete massacres of Indian horse herds are a sad and bitter reminder that exemplifies the hardiness of this breed.

The Colonial Spanish Horse is known by many names, including Spanish Mustang, Barb, Original Indian Horse and Cayuse to name a few. Their bloodlines have contributing to such modern breeds as the Morgan, Quarter Horse, American Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse, and of course the Paint, Palomino, Appaloosa and Buckskin; the preservation of this breed is monumental, as they are America’s First Horse.