American Quarter Horses

The American Quarter Horse is named for its ability to outrun other breeds in a quarter mile or less. Quarter horses are great sprinters and are used for this ability throughout the world. When you think of a cowboy and his horse, the horse you're probably thinking about is the quarter horse. It is a popular breed on ranches, and in rodeos.

The breed came about in the late 1800s through the mixing of many breeds of horses including the Thoroughbred, the Morgan, the Arabian and others. It was developed in America from horses brought over by settlers. They mainly developed in the American Southwest. Quarter horses are muscular and compact which makes them ideal for the close maneuvering required by ranchers and performance western riders. Their short distance speed is a true benefit for cattle ranching.

If you are a fan of the American Quarter Horse then you are not alone. Across the United States alone there exist many associations and fans. The American Quarter Horse Association, which is the official registry for quarter horses, is the largest breed registry in the world with at least 3.5 million horses registered.