| aAppaloosa is a cross between the Arabian horse | | | | have one of the color patterns found on the |
| and the Appaloosa that combines the refined physical | | | | Appaloosa horse, such as tobiano, overo, and sabino. |
| characteristics of the Arabian with the leopard-spotted | | | | The gene for roan is also useful in attaining the |
| coloring of the Appaloosa. Since both breeds have | | | | optimum color in the AraAppaloosa. |
| been noted for endurance and intelligence, the resulting | | | | The AAFBI supports those breeders who cross |
| cross tends to excel at endurance riding as well as a | | | | Arabian bloodlines into their foundation-based |
| variety of horse show disciplines, including ranch work, | | | | Appaloosa breeding stock, creating what they |
| which has been performed by either breed. It is also | | | | consider to be the original type of Appaloosa horse |
| known as the Araloosa and can also be found under | | | | since the backgrounds of the both the Arab have |
| the variant spellings of Arappaloosa and the | | | | much in common. AraAppaloosa breeders are trying |
| Ara-Appaloosa. But the AraAppaloosa is not a new | | | | to keep alive the true type of the Appaloosa as a |
| type of horse, but rather it is a breed that dates back | | | | refined, elegant, athletic and colorful horse with the |
| centuries. However, it is a relatively new horse registry | | | | AraAppaloosa of today being considered a |
| in the United States where the breed is represented | | | | re-establishment of the best examples of the |
| by the AraAppaloosa and Foundation Breeder's | | | | Appaloosa breed as originally developed by the Nez |
| International (AAFBI) which is, in some ways, a 1995 | | | | Perce people of the Pacific Northwest in the 18th and |
| off -shoot of the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) that | | | | 19th centuries. |
| was founded in 1938. | | | | So, an AraAppaloosa with one purebred Arabian |
| The founder of the ApHC, Claude Thompson, | | | | parent may be registered as a half-Arabian with the |
| remembered seeing the beautiful Nez Perce Indian | | | | Arabian Horse Association. Additionally, since the |
| Appaloosa of his childhood and felt that Arabian blood | | | | Appaloosa breed still has an open stud book to horses |
| was the only way to develop the true Appaloosa, so | | | | of Arabian breeding, many AraAppaloosas can also |
| that was the only outcross originally permitted in the | | | | be registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC). |
| ApHC in 1938, which means that many of the | | | | However, they also have their own organization, the |
| foundation Appaloosas already have these genes. | | | | AraAppaloosa and Foundation Breeders' International, |
| In fact, the spotted or parti-color horse is one of the | | | | where they can now be registered as their own |
| earliest, identifiably distinct breed types and many | | | | breed, so it is not unusual to find an AraAppaloosa that |
| examples of this horse pattern appear in ancient | | | | has been triple registered. |
| paintings of the early Middle East and Egypt, as well as | | | | The AraAppaloosa averages between 14 and 15 |
| in cave paintings, artwork and other artifacts | | | | hands high and have the general physical conformation |
| throughout Europe. Historians say that the spotted | | | | of the Arabian horse, including the refined head, the |
| horse was of the Arabian breed, which dates back | | | | high-carried tail and the overall elegance. The overall |
| several centuries and that the Appaloosa and the | | | | impression of an AraAppaloosa will be that of a more |
| Arabian horses are two of the oldest horse breeds | | | | refined build than the more common type of modern |
| with the Arabian being one of the purest. Because the | | | | Appaloosa that has a high percentage of American |
| Arabian has been a distinct breed type for thousands | | | | Quarter Horse breeding which means that the |
| of years, this is important information about what the | | | | AraAppaloosa is usually lighter and more athletic than |
| foundation of the AraAppaloosa looked like and there | | | | the Appaloosa. |
| is no denying that the original Arabian was spotted. | | | | Like both the Arabian and the Appaloosa, the |
| Spotline purebred Arabian horses can be traced to the | | | | AraAppaloosa horse has considerable endurance, |
| parti-colored purebreds of the Arabian Desert that had | | | | sure-footedness, intelligence and a fiery and spirited |
| white spots or other spotting along with white sclera, | | | | temperament. With the careful blending of the |
| some mottled skin and/or striped hooves, all of which | | | | bloodlines of these two breeds, a most amazing |
| are characteristics that make the Appaloosa breed | | | | AraAppaloosa can be produced. |
| unique. Although some experts do not agree that | | | | With the future of the AraAppaloosa leaning more |
| these characteristics on an Arabian horse are the | | | | toward sporthorse competition, many horses are now |
| result of Appaloosa genes, it is generally agreed that | | | | participating in endurance racing, 3-day eventing and |
| the genes that produce such color features certainly | | | | dressage. The AraAppaloosa is a fine Appaloosa of |
| complement the Appaloosa. The AraAppaloosa also | | | | great Arabian quality; with all the color, elegance, |
| displays the "leopard" or "Lp" gene and therefore must | | | | performance ability, and stamina that one could want. |