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Appaloosa

Equus ferus caballus

Spotted Appaloosa horse with a blanket coat pattern
Photo: Darrell Dodds — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The spotted horse of the Nez Perce — leopard and blanket coats, mottled skin and striped hooves.

TypeLight / ridingBest asRiding & familyOriginAmericas

How to spot it

A versatile stock-type horse of about 14 to 15 hands (142 to 152 cm). Three giveaways travel with the spotted coat: mottled (speckled) skin around the muzzle and eyes, vertically striped hooves, and a white sclera that shows round the eye. Patterns range from a few spots to full leopard.

Temperament

Even-tempered, willing and hardy — a good family and all-round Western horse.

What it's bred for

Bred by the Nez Perce people of the American Northwest and famed as a war and buffalo horse; today a popular stock, trail and show breed.

Care & upkeep

Hardy and an easy keeper. The pink skin on bald-faced or light individuals can sunburn, so provide shade and sunscreen on exposed areas in strong sun.

Health & lifespan

Around 30 years. The spotting gene is linked to night blindness in doubled form and to a higher rate of equine recurrent uveitis (moon blindness), so eyes are worth watching.

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