The American Quarter Horse was the first
breed of
horse that was
native to the Americas, more specifically, what is now the
United States. It was a mix of
various other breeds of horses that were brought to the
English colonies in the Americas during the 17th
century. The
colonists loved short distance
racing, and so the American Quarter Horse
evolved into a very
muscular and compact breed. They could run
faster than any other horse on a straight-a-way, short distance race, the best making the quarter-mile race in under 20-25
seconds. They were also
known for their
calm and
gentle nature.
The name quarter horse came from the quarter-mile races they ran, a standard racing distance. It had many different variations of the name before 1940, when it officially became know as the American Quarter Horse for a registry of the breed.
For a horse to be considered an American Quarter Horse, it must meet certain requirments. First, it must be the offspring of a registered (such as with the American Quarter Horse Association) AQH mare and stallion. It can only have limited white markings on the face and on the legs below the knees. There are also only 13 colors by which the AQH is recognized by:
sorrel
bay
black
chestnut
buckskin
brown
dun
red dun
palomino
grullo
gray
blue roan
red roan