 A chestnut American Quarter Horse | |
| Other names | Quarter Horse |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Traits | |
| Distinguishing features | Great speed over short distances; short, refined head; strong, well-muscled body, featuring a broad chest and powerful, rounded hindquarters |
| Breed standards | |
The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of 1⁄4 mi (0.40 km) or less; some have been clocked at speeds up to 44 mph (71 km/h). The development of the Quarter Horse traces to the 1600s.
The American Quarter Horse is the most popular breed in the United States, and the American Quarter Horse Association is the largest breed registry in the world, with almost three million living American Quarter Horses registered in 2014.[1] The American Quarter Horse is well known both as a race horse and for its performance in rodeos, horse shows, and as a working ranch horse.
The compact body of the American Quarter Horse is well suited for the intricate and quick maneuvers required in reining, cutting, working cow horse, barrel racing, calf roping, and other western riding events, especially those involving live cattle. The American Quarter Horse is also used in English disciplines, driving, show jumping, dressage, hunting, and many other equestrian activities.
The Texas Legislature designated the American Quarter Horse as the official "State Horse of Texas" in 2009,[2] and Oklahoma also designated the Quarter Horse as its official state horse in 2022.[3]
- ^ "AQHA Annual Report - 2014 Horse Statistics". American Quarter Horse Association. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
- ^ Hatch, Rosie (Ed.) (2022). Texas Almanac 2022-2023. Austin, Texas: Texas State Historical Association. p. 22.
- ^ Izzo, Kim (17 May 2022). "Quarter Horses Get Official Status in Oklahoma". Horse Canada. Retrieved 23 June 2023.