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61-483: The Narragansett Pacer was one of the first recorded horse breeds developed in the United States. It emerged in the 18th century (1700s), and was theorized to have been bred from a mix of English and Spanish breeds , although the exact cross is unknown. The Pacer was associated with, and bred in, the state of Rhode Island and the area of New England ; as horse breeding shifted to Kentucky and Tennessee in

122-671: A Baroque horse phenotype. The northern breeds include the Garrano , Pottok , and Asturcon , all of which are considered endangered breeds. Throughout history, Iberian horses have been influenced by many different peoples and cultures who occupied Spain, including the Celts , the Carthaginians , the Romans , various Germanic tribes and the Arabs . The Iberian horse was identified as

183-532: A Morgan and Thoroughbred cross mare named Flora, also a Sir Archy descendant. Through his dam, Flora, Traveller was descended from the Morgan stallion Blackburn's Davy Crockett (b. 1835), who was also considered to be a Canadian Pacer . Blackburn's Davy Crockett was inbred 3x to Justin Morgan (Figure) , who had been bred to three separate Narragansett Pacer mares, who would later serve as foundation stock for

244-651: A descendant of Sir Archy . Lexington went on to a career as a breeding stallion, and led the sires list of number of winners for 14 consecutive years. The Thoroughbred also supplanted the Narragansett Pacer as the favored horse breed of the United States Cavalry . Ulysses S. Grant , Union General and later President of the United States, rode a Thoroughbred named Cincinnati - a son of the Thoroughbred racehorse Lexington , who in turn

305-698: A pair in 1772. Paul Revere possibly rode a Pacer during his 1775 ride to warn the Americans of the British attack. Scots-Irish judge and Patriot sympathizer George Grant McCurdy of Old Lyme , Connecticut also owned a Narragansett Pacer mare ("McCurdy mare"), whom McCurdy bred to the English Thoroughbred stallion "McCurdy's Young Wildair" to produce the "Samuel Burt mare", an ancestor of Tennessee Walking Horse founder Black Allan . The Narragansett Pacer would prove to be immensely popular in

366-460: A reputation for its intelligence, courage, and a good disposition, and were used as foundation stock for the Saddlebred , Standardbred , and Tennessee Walking Horse . As of 2019, it is estimated that only 100 foundation Morgans with classical Narragansett Pacer traits remained in existence. This is due to the popularity of crossbreeding Morgan horses with Saddlebreds and Arabians , with

427-602: A significant role in the creation of the Morgan , American Saddlebred , the Standardbred , and the Tennessee Walking Horse . The breed was also combined with French pacers to create the Canadian Pacer , a breed especially suited to racing over ice, and which also contributed substantially to the creation of the Standardbred . In the early 19th century, Pacer mares were bred to stallions of

488-637: A talented war horse as early as 450 BCE. Mitochondrial DNA studies of the modern horses of the Iberian peninsula and Barb horse of North Africa present convincing evidence that horses crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in both directions and crossbred. It is not possible to determine which of these strains is the older one, and both trace to the Roman era, far earlier than the Muslim conquest of Spain that

549-472: Is a gaited horse , with the breed association recognizing two gaits , the running walk and amble , in addition to the regular walk, trot, canter and gallop. The single-footed ambling gait is known as the "coon rack" by some breed enthusiasts. The foundation genetics of the horse breed are the same as many others developed from Spanish stock in North America and South America , including

610-721: Is a designation given to a number of horse breeds native to the Iberian Peninsula . At present, some breeds are officially recognized by the FAO , while other horses believed to be native to the peninsula are not. Likewise, some modern breeds are understood from mitochondrial DNA to be descended from historic landraces , while others have origins outside the Iberian peninsula. The remaining FAO-recognized breeds are of well-known foreign blood, or are recently developed breeds. Cave paintings show that horses have been present on

671-592: Is a direct descendant of the Narragansett Pacer, and is probably almost the same horse." However, a 2022 genetic study showed that the Paso Fino likely descended from not only Narragansett Pacers, but various other Spanish and Iberian horse breeds , such as the Andalusian and Lusitano ; also related were the Morgan and the Florida Cracker Horse . Iberian horse The Iberian horse

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732-524: Is commonly assumed to mark the beginning of such crossbreeding. At one time, the northern Celtic horses were thought to have ancestry related to the Exmoor pony of the British Isles, but subsequent Mitochondrial DNA studies revealed that the populations are not closely related until there was some documented admixture between Exmoors and Celtic horses in the early-to-mid 20th century. If anything,

793-540: Is possible as their haplotype is found throughout the Iberian horse population, though it is not as frequently found as other mDNA lineages. Thus current evidence suggests they are not as closely related as once thought. However, the problem is that the Sorraia has endured a major genetic bottleneck since ancient times, and only two DNA founder lineages remain, so it is not possible to determine if certain haplotypes in various breeds descend from other lines now extinct in

854-423: Is short, and hindquarters are strongly muscled, with a long and well-muscled croup . The tail is attached high and carried gracefully and straight. Morgans appear to be a hardy and powerful horse, and the breed is well known as an easy keeper . The breed standard for height ranges from 14.1 to 15.2  hands (57 to 62 inches, 145 to 157 cm), with some individuals over and under. Gaits , particularly

915-706: Is the Galloway pony . A 2022 genetic study of the Paso Fino of Puerto Rico , thought to be descended from the Narragansett Pacer, also showed similarities to the New Forest Pony , which has shared ancestry with the Celtic-type Asturcón and Pottok ponies. A popular tradition linking the ancestry of the New Forest pony to Spanish horses said to have swum ashore from wrecked ships at

976-582: The American Revolutionary War : Medley in 1784; Shark in 1786; Messenger in 1788; and Diomed in 1798. Maryland and Virginia became the centers of colonial Thoroughbred breeding during the American Revolutionary War period, along with South Carolina and New York. Messenger left little impact as a sire on the American Thoroughbred, but is considered a foundation sire of the Standardbred breed. Diomed, who won

1037-616: The Banker horse of North Carolina ; Carolina Marsh Tacky of South Carolina ; and the Chincoteague Pony of Virginia . In the 1970s, there was interest in re-creating the Chickasaw horse, using horses bearing strong resemblances to the original breed, but the breed association no longer exists. The Chickasaw Horse Association Inc. listed the conformation of the Chickasaw horse as "a short head, short fine ears, wide between

1098-656: The Chincoteague Pony breed of Virginia . The resulting foals from the Canadian pony sire were also gaited , indicating the sire may have had Narragansett Pacer genes: "A few island ponies pace, but they carry an infusion of the Canadian scrub blood." The Narragansett Pacer also influenced the Paso Fino and other non-American gaited horse breeds . Per the International Museum of the Horse, "The Paso Fino

1159-412: The Chincoteague Pony of Virginia . More recently, the Narragansett Pacer was also shown to have likely influenced the Paso Fino in a 2022 genetic study. The Narragansett Pacer had a major influence on many American gaited horse breeds. It was especially associated with the state of Rhode Island in the early 18th century (1700s), but became extinct by the late 19th century. It was known as one of

1220-513: The Colonial Spanish horse , such as the Paso Fino and the Florida Cracker Horse , the later of which is supported by the 2022 genetic study. However, the study also noted that DMRT3, the allele that causes a pacing gait in horses, was "not common" in Iberian horses , theorizing that the gene came from "non-Iberian breeds". In 1768, George Washington owned and raced a Narragansett Pacer, and Edmund Burke asked an American friend for

1281-576: The Epsom Derby in 1780, had a significant impact on American Thoroughbred breeding through his son, Sir Archy , as well as strongly influenced the American Saddlebred through his descendant, Denmark . John F. Wall, a racing historian, said that Sir Archy was the "first outstanding stallion we can claim as native American". He was retired from the racetrack because of lack of opponents. The center of Thoroughbred breeding and racing in

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1342-536: The Iberian Peninsula as far back as 20,000 to 25,000 BCE. Iberian horses are thought to be among the oldest types of domesticated horses . DNA studies indicate certain breeds have ancestry that can be traced to wild horses that lived about 6200BCE, in the Early Iberian Neolithic period. There is a past hypothesis that the Sorraia may have been an ancestor of several modern breeds, and it

1403-408: The Morgan horse , which is descended from Narragansett Pacer mares crossed with breed founder Justin Morgan (Figure) , of English Thoroughbred stock. Compact and refined in build, the Morgan has "strong legs, an expressive head with a straight or slightly convex profile and broad forehead; large, prominent eyes; well-defined withers , laid back shoulders, and an upright, well arched neck". The back

1464-507: The Morgan horse . The second factor in the breed's extinction was that Pacers were sold in large numbers to sugarcane planters in the Caribbean , thereby severely diminishing the purebred stock in the United States. The few horses that were left were crossbred to create and improve other breeds, including the Morgan and the Standardbred , the latter through crossing Pacer mares to Messenger -line Thoroughbred stallions. Due to this,

1525-635: The Paso Fino , the Peruvian Paso , and the Criollo . The Cracker horse is very similar in type and genetics to the Carolina Marsh Tacky of South Carolina and the Banker horse of North Carolina , both Spanish-style breeds from the eastern United States , but DNA testing has proven that these are separate breeds. Horses first arrived on the southeast North American mainland in 1521, brought by Ponce de León on his second trip to

1586-796: The official state horse . The Florida Cracker is also associated with the Seminole Tribe of Florida , a prominent group of Native Americans in the state, as well as the Chickasaw Nation , a Native American tribe that originally lived in Alabama and Mississippi in the Southern United States . The Florida Cracker Horse is also known by a variety of other names and descriptions, including "Chickasaw pony", "Seminole pony", "Prairie pony", "Florida horse", "Florida cow pony", and "grass-gut". The modern breed retains

1647-493: The trot , are "animated, elastic, square, and collected", with the front and rear legs balanced. Due to their Narragansett Pacer ancestry, a few Morgans (10-20% of the breed) are gaited , meaning they can perform an intermediate gait other than the trot, such as the rack, fox trot , or pace . The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) states "a Morgan is distinctive for its stamina and vigor, personality and eagerness and strong natural way of moving". The Morgan breed also has

1708-586: The 18th century, and dominated early horse races in Colonial America . The extinction of the Narragansett Pacer as a breed was thought to be mainly due to two factors. The first of these factors was the introduction of the English Thoroughbred to the United States from England. The first Thoroughbred horse in the American Colonies was Bulle Rock , imported in 1730, and four more important Thoroughbred stallions were imported shortly after

1769-601: The 20th century is owed to a few families who continued to breed the Cracker horse and kept distinct bloodlines alive. John Law Ayers was one such breeder; in 1984, he donated his herd of pure-bred Cracker horses to the state of Florida. With them, the state started three small herds in Tallahassee , Withlacoochee State Forest , and Paynes Prairie State Preserve . By 1989, however, these three herds and around 100 other horses owned by private families were all that remained of

1830-497: The Chickasaw name to describe the Florida Crackers of today. The Chickasaw horse was originally bred for speed over short distances, traits found in its Florida Cracker Horse and American Quarter Horse descendants. The typical Chickasaw horse stood at about 13 hands high, described as "short and chunky, quick to action, but not distance runners...the best utility and all-rounder horses of their time". They influenced

1891-570: The Exmoor pony stallions brought to the area, or for example, the heavy Burguete and Jaca Navarra breeds crossed on foreign stallions to create a bigger animal more useful for the horsemeat industry. In Spain and Portugal, the 1980s marked the start of efforts to bring back several of the Northern Iberian breeds from extinction, some of which were down to a few dozen individuals. The Cartusian strain of Pure Spanish (Andalusian) horse

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1952-659: The Iberian breeds are characterized by a "consistent absence of geographical structure". When the Spanish reached the Americas in the late 15th century, they brought various horses of Iberian ancestry with them. Their descendants have been designated as the Colonial Spanish Horse and have contributed significantly to a number of horse breeds in both North and South America. In modern times, stallions from outside breeds were crossed on local breeds, such as

2013-491: The Paynes Prairie Preserve. The state annually sells excess horses from all three herds, and individual breeders also send horses to the sale. The Livestock Conservancy considers the breed to be at "critical" status, meaning that the estimated global population of the breed is fewer than 2,000 and there are fewer than 200 registrations annually in the United States. The Equus Survival Trust also considers

2074-549: The Sorraia. Roman writers mention in Hispania war horses, wild horses, "tieldones" and small "asturcones'" in the north. Two distinct phenotypes of Iberian horse were identified in early research: so-called "Celtic" ponies, centered in the Cantabrian Range in the north, and the horses of the south, represented today by the Andalusian and Carthusian , Lusitano , Marismeño and related breeds, many of which have

2135-533: The Tiger Horse, a gaited breed with leopard complex patterning, similar to the modern-day Appaloosa , Knabstrupper , and Noriker ; and more. The Narragansett Pacer also served as foundation stock for the Canadian horse . In 1896, Leonard D. Sale wrote in The Horse Review of Chicago that an Assateague resident imported and released a " Canadian-bred pony stallion " in an effort to improve

2196-545: The United States later moved west, with Kentucky and Tennessee became significant centers. Andrew Jackson , later President of the United States, was a breeder and racer of Thoroughbreds in Tennessee. Match races held in the early 19th century (1800s) helped to popularize horse racing on the flat in the United States. One took place in 1823, in Long Island, New York , between Sir Henry and American Eclipse . Another

2257-556: The breed. In 1989 the Florida Cracker Horse Association was founded and in 1991 a registry was established. After the registry was created, 75 horses designated as " foundation horses " and 14 of their offspring were immediately registered. These horses came mainly from four lines of Cracker bloodstock and were designated as purebreds by breed experts – partbred horses were denied entry to the registry. As of 2009, around 900 horses had been registered since

2318-484: The distinctive cracking of their whips, though modern etymology actually traces the term to a mostly obsolete word for 'braggart' or 'loudmouth'. The name was transferred to both the horses they rode and the cattle they herded. Through their primary use as stock horses , the type developed into the Florida Cracker horse, known for its speed, endurance and agility. From the mid-16th century to the 1930s, this type

2379-546: The first breeds of horse developed in America. The origin of the breed is unknown, but it was probably developed from a cross between English "ambling" horses and Spanish breeds . The horses developed from this cross were known for their smoothness and sure-footedness over poor terrain. The English horses which contributed to the Narragansett Pacer may have been members of the Irish Hobby breed; another possible ancestor

2440-616: The fledgling Morgan breed. However, the Morgan breed was selected for a trot as an intermediate gait, and thus ambling horses were frowned upon, so most Narragansett/Morgan crosses were sold to Canada, the Caribbean, and South America, so the bloodlines did not remain within the Morgan breed. Other breeds indirectly influenced by the Narragansett Pacer include the Rocky Mountain Horse , a gaited breed started in Kentucky ;

2501-594: The foundation of the registry. Effective July 1, 2008, the Florida House of Representatives declared the Florida Cracker Horse the official state horse. As of 2009 there are three main bloodlines of Cracker stock, as well as a few smaller lines. The state of Florida still maintains two groups of Ayers-line horses in Tallahassee and Withlacoochee for breeding purposes and a display group in

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2562-485: The head clean, the neck long, the arms and legs thin and tapered." Dutson states: "They are very spirited, and carry both the head and tail high. But what is more remarkable is that they amble with more speed than most horses trot, so that it is difficult to put some of them upon a gallop." Other viewers of the breed rarely called them stylish or good-looking, although they considered them dependable, easy to work with, and sure-footed. These characteristics also showed up in

2623-467: The hooves are hard; and the Paso Fino often has a thick mane and tail. It is found in all horse colors, and there are no restrictions by the various breed associations. The Puerto Rican Paso Fino is the only breed in which tiger eye was found, which usually lightens the eyes to a striking amber, yellow, or bright orange color. Of the gaited horses descended from the Narragansett Pacer, the Morgan , Florida Cracker Horse , and Paso Fino were shown to be

2684-525: The horses for herding cattle. These horses developed into the Florida Cracker type seen today, and continued to be used by Florida cattlemen (known as "crackers" or "cowhunters") until the 1930s. By this point, Florida Cracker Horses were superseded by American Quarter Horses , the latter of which were needed to work the larger cattle breeds brought to Florida during the Dust Bowl . As a result,

2745-401: The late 1700s, it became extinct by the 20th century. Narragansett Pacer horses were owned and ridden by many famous people of the American Revolutionary War era, including President George Washington , Paul Revere , and others. The last known purebred Pacer is thought to have died around 1880, though the breed disappeared earlier from pedigrees in the late 1700s or early 1800s. The Pacer

2806-445: The latter cross being used to produce Morab horses, as well as other gaited horse breeds . The Paso Fino of Puerto Rico , another likely descendant of the Narragansett Pacer, tends to be refined, standing an average of 13 to 15.2  hands (52 to 62 inches, 132 to 157 cm), but is powerful for its size. It has a convex head, clean legs, and a relatively short back, with prominent withers. Cannon bones tend to be short;

2867-558: The most genetically similar in a 2022 study, whereas the American Saddlebred and Standardbred had more Thoroughbred influence due to higher amounts of crossbreeding. The breed was used for "pacing races" in Rhode Island, where the Baptist population allowed races when the greater part of Puritan New England did not. Pacers reportedly covered the one-mile tracks in a little more than two minutes. The Narragansett Pacer played

2928-478: The parasitic screwworm . Cattle with this parasite needed to be treated frequently, being roped and held while the rider was on horseback. The cowboys found that the Florida Cracker horses, bred for working smaller cattle, were not able to hold the western cattle. They replaced the smaller horses with American Quarter Horses . This resulted in the Florida breed almost becoming extinct. The breed's survival during

2989-493: The population numbers of the Florida Cracker Horse declined precipitously. Through the efforts of several private families and the Florida government, the breed was saved from extinction, but there is still concern about its low numbers. Both The Livestock Conservancy and the Equus Survival Trust consider breed endangered. On July 1, 2008, the Florida House of Representatives declared the Florida Cracker Horse

3050-517: The population to be "critical," meaning that there are between 100 and 300 active breeding mares in existence today. However, breed numbers are slowly on the rise. The original Chickasaw horse, bred by the Chickasaw Nation using horses captured from Hernando de Soto 's expedition, became extinct after being used to create the Florida Cracker Horse, and having some influence on the American Quarter Horse . Some sources still use

3111-583: The pure strain of the Narragansett Pacer eventually became extinct sometime in the 1800s. North Carolina also had breeders of the Pacer, as the breeding stock was brought to the area around 1790 by pioneers. The last known purebred Pacer is thought to have died around 1880. As no formal breed registry or studbook was created to record Narragansett Pacer horses, identifying them is done through cross-referencing historical documents, as well as instances of crossbreeding in early pedigrees . The Narragansett Pacer

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3172-950: The region, where they were used by officers, scouts, and livestock herders. Later expeditions brought more horses and cattle to Spanish Florida . By the late 16th century, horses were used extensively in the local cattle business, and by the late 17th century the industry was flourishing, especially in what is now northern Florida and southern Georgia. The horses brought to North America by the Spanish and subsequently bred there included Barbs , Garranos , Spanish Jennets , Sorraias , Andalusians , and other Iberian breeds . Overall, they were relatively small and had physical traits distinctive of Spanish breeds, including short backs, sloping shoulders, low set tails, and wide foreheads. The early cattle drivers, nicknamed Florida crackers and Georgia crackers , used these Spanish-ancestry horses to drive cattle (eventually known as Florida Cracker cattle ). The cattlemen were said to have received their nickname from

3233-753: The size of its Spanish ancestors , standing 13.2 to 15  hands (54 to 60 inches, 137 to 152 cm) high and weighing 750 to 1,000 pounds (340 to 450 kg). They are found mainly in bay , black , and gray , although grullo , dun , and chestnut are also seen. Roan and pinto colors are occasionally found. Florida Crackers have straight or slightly concave profiles, strong backs and sloping croups . They are known for their speed and agility and excel at trail and endurance riding , and are also used extensively as stock horses. They are sometimes seen in Western riding sports such as working cow horse , team roping , and team penning . The Florida Cracker

3294-727: The time of the Spanish Armada has, according to the New Forest National Park Authority, "long been accepted as a myth"; however, the offspring of New Forest mares, probably bred at the Royal Stud in Lyndhurst , were exported in 1507 for use in the Renaissance wars involving France and Spain , which lasted until 1559. The Royal Stud at Lyndhurst was also said to stand Spanish stallions at

3355-430: The time; and, like Pacers, the ponies were raced. In the early 1700s, Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor William Robinson began the serious development of Narragansett Pacer breed with a stallion named "Old Snip", speculated to be either an Irish Hobby or an Andalusian ( Iberian horse ), and considered to be the father of the breed. As such, the Narragansett Pacer may be related to other gaited horse breeds descended from

3416-435: Was a match race between Boston and Fashion in 1838 that featured bets of $ 20,000 from each side. The last major match races before the American Civil War were both between Lexington and Lecompte. The first was held in 1854 in New Orleans , and was won by Lecompte. Lexington's owner then challenged Lecompte's owner to a rematch, held in 1855 in New Orleans and won by Lexington. Both of these horses were sons of Boston ,

3477-467: Was also endangered, with a breeding population of about 150 animals. In 2005, a distinctive primitive, feral breed was identified inside Doñana National Park , the Retuerta horse (Caballo de las retuertas). Florida Cracker Horse The Florida Cracker Horse is a gaited breed known for its agility and speed. The Spanish first brought horses to Florida with their expeditions in the early 16th century; as colonial settlement progressed, they used

3538-496: Was known as a sure-footed, dependable breed, although not flashy or always good-looking. Pacers were used for racing and general riding. They provided the foundation for several other American breeds, including the Morgan and the Standardbred ; and, through the Morgan, the American Saddlebred and Tennessee Walking Horse as well. Narragansett Pacers also served as Canadian horse foundation stock ; and, through unnamed Canadian horse and Morgan horse stallions , also influenced

3599-603: Was not exclusively a pacing horse, as evidence indicates that it exhibited an ambling gait. The amble is more comfortable to ride than the pace gait, and Narragansett Pacers were known for their qualities as riding and driving horses. They averaged around 14.1  hands (57 inches, 145 cm) tall, and were generally chestnut in color. However, later Narragansett Pacer descendants, such as Boone's Grey John (b. 1863) and Traveller (b. 1857), had gray coats, most likely from Messenger . James Fenimore Cooper described their conformation as such: "They have handsome foreheads,

3660-409: Was sired by Boston - and Grant also lent Cincinnati to President Abraham Lincoln to ride. Confederate General Robert E. Lee of Virginia also rode a gray horse named Traveller . While considered to be a Saddlebred by the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA), Traveller was sired by a Thoroughbred stallion named Grey Eagle, who was linebred to Sir Archy (by Diomed ), and out of

3721-483: Was the predominant horse in the southeastern United States. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), both belligerents purchased large amounts of beef from Florida, and the Spanish horses bred there were highly desired as riding horses. During this time, there was also a continual introduction of new Spanish blood from Cuba, as horses were traded between the two areas. During the Dust Bowl (1930–1940), large western cattle were moved into Florida, bringing with them

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