Horses come in an incredible array of breeds and types, each with their own unique characteristics and talents.
This guide explores many of the world’s most popular and common horse breeds, offering insights into their origins, physical traits, and the roles they play today.
Draft Horse Breeds
Typical adult weight range = 1,600-2,200 pounds
These typically large and muscular breeds are built and bred for heavy work, such as pulling carriages or plowing fields.
Belgian Draft Horse
Ranging from 16 to 17 hands, Belgians have a heavy body build and thick muscles. They are one of the strongest draft breeds, known for being able to pull impressively heavy loads, which is why they are commonly used for logging or farming. Despite their size, they typically have a docile and friendly temperament.
Clydesdale
A breed whose roots originate from Scotland, these tall and powerful draft horses are easily recognized by the distinctive feathers on their lower legs. These strong and graceful horses commonly pull carts and wagons. This breed has become widely known due to the Budweiser Clydesdales.
Friesian
These majestic draft horses have a striking black coat, long black manes and tails, and are originally from the Netherlands. These elegant horses are commonly used in disciplines like driving, dressage, and have often been cast in movies because of their looks.
Percheron
Originating in France, this breed is known for its versatility and power. They are typically used for agricultural work and as farm horses since they can haul heavy loads. Because these horses have Arabian lineage in their foundations, they are also known for their looks and stand out from other draft breeds.
Shire Horses
Known for their height, numerous Shires have broken records as the world’s tallest horses. They were originally bred in Great Britian for heavy farm work and are known to be “gentle giants” with easygoing temperaments.
Light Horse Breeds
Typical adult weight range = 900-1,300 pounds
These horses are typically leaner, taller, and more athletically built as compared to the draft horse breeds. They commonly excel in riding disciplines like jumping, racing, endurance riding, and a variety of other riding disciplines.
Andalusian
This breed is known as the “Pure Spanish Horse” and has a noble appearance and expressive movement. This elegant yet powerful breed has a storied history in disciplines like bullfighting, classical riding, and dressage.
Appaloosa
Originally, Appaloosas were bred by a Native American tribe called the Nez Perce. These horses are known for their spotted coats and the stripes on their hooves. Appaloosas are used for a wide variety of English and western riding disciplines due to their versatility and intelligence.
Arabian
This ancient breed, whose lineage can be traced back to about 3000 B.C., originated in the deserts of the Middle East. Since then, they’ve been used as the foundation for many of the lighter breeds we see today. This elegant, light built, and intelligent breed has a distinct “dished” face and nose. They’re often used as endurance horses due to their breed characteristics but excel in a wide variety of English and western disciplines.
Morgan
One of America’s oldest breeds, this versatile and compact horse, standing on average, around 14.1 – 15.2 hands. Morgan horses excel at a variety of disciplines, including dressage, endurance events, western riding and even driving
Mustang
A typically wild horse breed descendent of Spanish stock horses, Mustangs have a heritage of being the symbol of the American West. The mustang is versatile and used in a variety of riding disciplines. However, they frequently excel as trail and endurance horses because of their sturdy build and sure-footedness.
Paint
This breed’s lineage is a cross between the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse breeds, known for its unique “painted” looking coat patterns. While commonly seen in western riding disciplines, they also excel in a variety of English disciplines, as well.
Quarter Horse
The most popular breed in America is the Quarter Horse, boasting the largest breed registry in the world. They excel in a variety of western and English disciplines, as well as on the trail. They have a typically calm demeaner, strong hind end, and are known for their versatility.
Standardbred
These horses are known for their exceptional pacing and trotting abilities and, because of this, are typically bred for harness racing. However, many Standardbreds excel in a variety of other riding disciplines and second careers after racing due to their versatility and willing, friendly dispositions.
Thoroughbred
Originally bred in England, this breed is known best for being a successful racehorse. Thoroughbreds are bred for speed and athleticism but excel in a wide variety of other riding disciplines such as show jumping, eventing, dressage, and even western riding disciplines.
Gaited Horses
These horses have a unique gait, called an ambling gait, and are known for a comfortable ride over long distances.
Tennessee Walking Horse
This breed is best known for its “running walk,” which is a smooth, four-beat gait. These horses are frequently used for trail or pleasure riding because of their comfortable gaits.
Paso Fino
Originally from Latin America, this breed is an excellent pleasure riding, trail riding, or competition horse known for their comfortable movement. Paso Finos are also known for their four-beat lateral gait called “The Paso Fino.”
Missouri Fox Trotter
Missouri Fox Trotters are known for their distinctive “fox trot,” which is a rhythmic and smooth four-beat broken diagonal gait. Originating from the Ozark Mountain range that runs across Missouri, they were used for utility work. Today, they are used for plowing, hauling logs, and a variety of riding and showing disciplines because of their smooth gaits and calm disposition.
Saddlebred
While Saddlebreds perform a traditional walk, trot and canter, some can slow gait or rack, which are ambling gaits. These horses have a light, elegant appearance, and are typically used for driving or saddle seat riding.
Pony Breeds
Typical adult weight range = 100-800 pounds
Ponies are classified as horses under 14.2 hands tall. They typically have sturdy builds and are popular with children, used for a variety of riding and driving disciplines.
Connemara
This pony breed is native to the Connemara region of Ireland. According to Irish mythology, the Connemara pony is the result of Spanish horses that escaped a shipwreck and bred with wild Irish ponies. They are surefooted, hardy, and a typically docile breed that’s used for a variety of riding disciplines and showing.
Hackney Pony
Originally bred to pull carriages in England, they started as a mix between Welsh and Fell ponies. They are known for a fluid gait with high knee and hock action. Today, they are commonly used as mounts for children or harness and cart ponies.
Haflinger
While this breed can be larger than pony size, Haflingers are commonly smaller in size, ranging from 13.2 to 15 hands tall. These horses are known for their small, sturdy build, stunning golden chestnut coat, and flaxen mane and tail. They are a versatile breed, used for a variety of riding and driving disciples, as well as therapeutic work.
Miniature Horses
Miniature horses stand about 38 inches tall. Affectionately referred to as "mini's", they excel in driving and in-hand events. Sometimes, they can be ridden by small children, though they are more commonly companion or therapy animals due to their size.
Shetland
Originally from Scotland’s Shetland Islands, these commonly smaller ponies are a popular choice as children’s mounts or as driving horses. These ponies are built hardy and strong, with a typically gentle temperament.
Welsh Pony
Welsh ponies come in a range of heights and sizes, meaning they can be small, medium, or large ponies. As the name suggests, this breed is native to Wales. They are a versatile and athletic pony breed that can excel in a wide variety of disciplines, including jumping, dressage, and driving.
Small Horse Breeds
Typical adult weight range = 600-800 pounds
While typically close to or at pony height, these breeds are considered small horses and are unique in several ways.
Fjord Horse
This Norwegian breed has a distinctive dun color, bold dorsal stripe, and often has a mix of black and flaxen colors in their mane and tale. They are also one of the oldest and purest breeds. Fjord horses served as Viking war horses and were used for farmwork. Today, they are used as pleasure mounts due to their smooth gait and driving disciplines due to their powerful build.
Icelandic Horse
Icelandic horses have been a purebred breed since the 10th century, and no new Icelandic horses have been imported into Iceland since the 12th century. This breed has five natural gaits, including the tölt—a four-beat lateral gait. These horses are known for their ability to cross rough terrain, like rocks, glaciers and impassable roads. They are also excellent swimmers. Icelandic equitation is the traditional style of riding of Iceland.
Warmblood Breeds
Typical adult weight range = 1,300-1,700 pounds
Warmbloods are a cross between a heavier breed and a lighter breed, making them a middle-weight horse. Known for their versatility and athleticism, they are commonly ridden in equestrian sports like show jumping, eventing, and dressage.
Dutch Warmblood
Originating in the Netherlands, this breed is known for its athletic abilities, especially in disciplines like jumping, dressage, and driving. Dutch Warmbloods are typically intelligent, calm, and eager to learn.
Hanoverian
Named after the capital city of Hanover, this breed originated from Germany. Typically, Hanoverians are level-headed and easy to work with. This breed has won over 25 Olympic gold medals, and is bred and used for disciplines like dressage, show jumping, and driving.
Holsteiner
Another Warmblood breed originally from Germany is the Holsteiner. Known as a dominant force in the show jumping world, they also excel at the top levels of show hunters, dressage, combined driving, and eventing.
Irish Sport Horse
Originally a cross between the Thoroughbred and Irish Draught horse, this breed is brave, intelligent, and can be a range of temperaments. Known prominently today as a performance horse, common disciplines include eventing, dressage, show jumping, fox hunting, and leisure riding.
Oldenburg
The early Oldenburg horses were well-known for consistency in conformation, great power, and their magnificent coal black color. They were commonly used to pull carriages or under-saddle work. Today, they excel at dressage, show jumping, and other equestrian sports.
Trakehner
This lighter Warmblood breed is originally from East Prussia. Another common Olympic competitor, these horses commonly excel in eventing, show jumping and dressage due to their athleticism.
Selle Français
French bred, the Selle Français was created in 1958 by crossing several other French riding horse breeds. Because of their conformation and more sensitive and energetic temperament, this breed also commonly excels in eventing, show jumping, and eventing.
Westphalian
This horse was originally bred in the early 1800s in Westphalia, Germany. These typically extremely athletic and talented horses are bred for dressage, show jumping, and pleasure riding. They have a “big movement” in their stride, making them competitive in these disciplines. This horse is also commonly seen competing at the Olympic level.
References
About Haflingers. (n.d.). American Haflinger Alliance. Retrieved from https://www.haflingeralliance.com/all-about-haflingers/breed-standard/
About the Morgan. (n.d.). American Morgan Horse Association. Retrieved from https://www.morganhorse.com/about-morgan/overview/
American Connemara Pony Society. (n.d.). American Connemara Pony Society. Retrieved from https://acps.org/
American Hackney Horse Society. (n.d.). American Hackney Horse Society. Retrieved from https://www.hackneysociety.com/
American Miniature Horse Association. (n.d.). American Miniature Horse Association. Retrieved from https://www.amha.org/
American Mustang. (n.d.). American Mustang. Retrieved from https://www.americasmustang.com/the-history
American Paint Horse Association. (n.d.). American Paint Horse Association. Retrieved from https://apha.com/
American Quarter Horse Association. (n.d.). American Quarter Horse Association. Retrieved from https://www.aqha.com/
American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association. (n.d.). American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association. Retrieved from https://www.saddlebred.com/
American Shetland Pony Club. (n.d.). American Shetland Pony Club. Retrieved from https://www.shetlandminiature.com/
American Shire Horse Association. (n.d.). American Shire Horse Association. Retrieved from https://www.shirehorse.org/
Appaloosa Horses. (n.d.). OSU Breeds of Livestock. Retrieved from https://breeds.okstate.edu/horses/appaloosa-horses.html
Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America. (2024). Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America. Retrieved from https://www.belgiancorp.com/
Clydesdale. (n.d.). The Livestock Conservancy. Retrieved from https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/clydesdale-horse/
Discover Arabian Horses. (n.d.). Arabian Horse Association. Retrieved from https://www.arabianhorses.org/discover/about/arabian-horses/
Discover the Irish Sport Horse. (n.d.). FEI. Retrieved from https://www.fei.org/stories/lifestyle/health-fitness/discover-irish-sport-horse
Dutch Warmblood Horses. (n.d.). OSU Breeds of Livestock. Retrieved from https://breeds.okstate.edu/horses/dutch-warmblood-horses.html
Fresian History. (n.d.). Fresian Horse Society. Retrieved from https://friesianhorsesociety.com/friesian-history/
Hanoverian Horses. (n.d.). OSU Breeds of Livestock. Retrieved from https://breeds.okstate.edu/horses/hanoverian-horses.html
Icelandic Horse Breeding Standards. (n.d.). The United States Icelandic Horse Congress. Retrieved from https://icelandics.org/breeding-standards
International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association. (n.d.). International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association. Retrieved from https://ialha.org/
Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association. (n.d.). Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association. Retrieved from https://mfthba.com/
Percheron Horse Association of America. (n.d.). Percheron Horse Association of America. Retrieved from https://www.percheronhorse.org/
Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association. (n.d.). Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association. Retrieved from https://twhbea.com/
THE HOLSTEINER HORSE. (n.d.). Holsteiner Verband North American Breeding District. Retrieved from https://www.holsteiner.com/breed-overview
The Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry. (n.d.). The Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry. Retrieved from https://www.nfhr.com/catalog/index.php?breedstd=1
The Paso Fino Horse Association. (n.d.). The Paso Fino Horse Association. Retrieved from https://pfha.org/
Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. (n.d.). Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Retrieved from https://toba.org/
Trakehner Horses. (n.d.). OSU Breeds of Livestock. Retrieved from https://breeds.okstate.edu/horses/trakehner-horses.html
United States Trotting Association. (n.d.). United States Trotting Association. Retrieved from https://www.ustrotting.com/
Welsh Pony & Cob Society of America. (n.d.). Welsh Pony & Cob Society of America. Retrieved from https://wpcsa.org/
Westphalian Horses. (n.d.). Horse Illustrated. Retrieved from https://www.horseillustrated.com/horse-breeds-horse-breed-articles-the-westphalian?srsltid=AfmBOopLNVxQAgVEm1D29_GGzRGPZWaj6OisTy-305ar_DHtiXiTQoIL
