The Appaloosa horse is a classic American breed, and has been well-known in North America for several decades. However, over the past 20 years, this spotted icon has become more and more popular on other continents.
Brazil is one country that has fallen in love with the breed.
In 1974, the first Appaloosa foal was born in Brazil, and a Brazilian breed club for the Appaloosa was formed only a few years later. Today, there are some 1,000 Appaloosa breeders in Brazil and over 15,000 Brazilian registered Appaloosas that perform in a number of different competitive events including calf roping, games classes, western pleasure and racing. Europe has also embraced the Appaloosa. Using breeding stock imported from the United States and Canada, several countries, including Britain and Sweden, have become enclaves within the European community for Appaloosa production. Used as sport horses and for western riding, Appaloosas in Europe happily demonstrate the breed s amazing versatility something we ve know about here for years.