Icelandic horses were never bred for size because they were not needed for military use on their isolated isle, Winhold says. Nor were they used as draft horses because the volcanic terrain was too rough for wheels, she says. Instead, over hundreds of years, Icelandic horses have been bred for their amenable disposition and intelligence. In this case, good things come in small packages. Unlike most horses, Icelandics have five natural gaits.
Most people are familiar with walking, trotting and cantering or galloping.
In addition, Icelandic horses can pace, alternately paralleling the front and back legs on each side at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. The most unusual gait, called a tolt, is performed at an intermediate speed with the front legs prancing high. It is about as fast as a trot, but smoother. Incidentally, the trot is not so bouncy that riders need to post up and down. Like the English system of horsemanship, equestrians use a hornless saddle and direct rein.