Abington Hills Farm
Waverly PA
2010

The Appaloosa is renowned for its spectacular spotted coat and is recognized by equine enthusiasts everywhere. However, did you know that the Appaloosa horse isn’t the only breed that sports a spotted coat? Many other breeds also boast that distinctive spotted appearance.

Spotted Horse Breed History

Despite the fact that spotted horses may appear few and far between, they have been around for a long time. Early paintings in European caves show depictions of spotted horses. Additionally, some recorded breeding pedigrees date back centuries.

Recent DNA has concluded that spotted horses roamed Europe well before horses were imported and exported, and before studbooks existed. We also know that royalty held spotted horses and ponies in high regard. This was perhaps due to their mythical and magical perception. They elegant horses held great value value and were often sent as gifts to royalty.

After World War II, interest in the spotted horse peaked once more, and many of them were exported to varying countries across the globe. These countries included Australia, America and Canada. The British Spotted Horse Society was established in 1947 to keep a register of spotted ponies. It split in 1976 to also form the British Appaloosa Society. Due to breeding, many horses, such as Warmblood breeds, may boast spotted coats if they have Knabstrupper in their genes. Spotted horses are more common today in America and Canada than in the UK.

Appaloosa

The Appaloosa is the most widely internationally recognized spotted horse breed. The Appaloosa Horse Club in America formed in 1938. Appaloosa horses are one of the most popular breeds in the USA, favored for many Western disciplines for their strength and agility. These unique horses generally stand between 14.2hh and 16.2hh. This makes them an excellent size for riding and many other equestrian activities.

Although the Appaloosa is famed for its spots, not all Appaloosas have spots! Spotted Appaloosas can appear in several colors and patterns. These include Bay blanket, Chestnut blanket, Dun with Roan blanket, Leopard, Bay Roan, and other variations. The indigenous Nez Perce people treasured spotted horses over non-spotted horses. In fact, the Nez Perce horse is credited for helping to breed the Appaloosa.


Knabstrupper

The Knabstrupper exhibits the same spotted coloring characteristics of the Appaloosa, although both breeds were created exclusively. Likewise to other spotted breeds, the leopard gene complex produces the spotted coloring. Knabstruppers stand between 15.2hh and 16.2hh and are used for many equestrian disciplines. The Knabstrupper hails from Denmark originally, specifically from the Knabstrup area.

Knabstruppers are very much like the Warmblood sports horse in their physical build and temperament. This is why they often turn their hooves to dressage and show jumping. Because Knabstruppers are so often linked with the Warmblood, some Warmblood breeds, such as the Polish Warmblood, will have a spotted coat. This comes from the Knabstrupper in their lineage. The breed is relatively rare in the USA and more commonly seen in Europe.


British Spotted Pony

The British spotted pony breed exists in Britain and comes in two size categories. These categories are 8 to 10.2hh and up to 14hh. The British Spotted Pony Society was founded to register the studbook. They did this in an attempt to preserve the breed that has a long history in the UK and Europe.


Pony of the Americas

This colorful and hardy spotted horse breed dates back to 1954. It started when a Shetland pony breeder bred one of his horses with an Arabian-Appaloosa. The result was an eye-catching white colt with black paint-like markings splattered all over his coat. The colt was named Black Hand, because one of the markings on his hind resembled the shape of a black hand.

The Pony of the Americas typically presents a small, Arab-style dished head and a muscled and strong body, with markings like that of the Appaloosa. They generally have a gentle temperament and make wonderful riding ponies, praised for their agility and strength.