The Appaloosa's
heritage is as colorful and unique as its coat pattern. Usually noticed
and recognized because of its spots and splashes of color, the abilities
and beauty of this breed are more than skin deep.
When white settlers came to this Northwest region, it is believed that they called the spotted horses they saw by the Palouse River or owned by the Palouse tribe "Palouse horses" or "a Palouse horse." Over time the name was shortened and slurred to "a Palousey" and then "Appaloosey." During the Nez Perce War of 1877, Appaloosa horses were among those that helped the non-treaty Nez Perce elude the U.S. Cavalry for several months. The Nez Perce fled over 1,300 miles of rugged, punishing terrain under the guidance of Chief Joseph and other Nez Perce leaders. When they surrendered in Montana, their surviving horses were given to soldiers, left behind or dispersed to settlers. Nothing was done to preserve the Appaloosa breed until 1938, when a group of dedicated horsemen formed the Appaloosa Horse Club, the international breed registry, for the preservation and improvement of the spotted horse, whose numbers were diminishing. The name of the horse officially became Appaloosa.
Now
an international breed registry, the ApHC - along with the Appaloosa Museum
and Heritage Center - is located in Moscow, Idaho. More than half a million
Appaloosas are on record, with about 10,000 new horses registered and
26,000 members annually. Moscow also is the source of the official publication
of the ApHC and Appaloosa horse, the Appaloosa Journal, a monthly, award-winning
magazine. Appaloosa research by Pearl Sister
Bejon, PetPlaza Horse Team |