Looking around about breed information, Why I don't know it is just what I do. I can't remember squat so I have to read and re read.

But was reading about the appys and it says cave paintings are found 20,000 years ago. And carved paintings with pictures of appy's 1000 BC time frame.

Now with that said I thought the appy's came from the nez perce. But obviously I haven't done enough research. But would love to have some information some acurate info. As anyone can throw up a web page.

Dont want to get in a heated campfire debate and not have my ammo ready this camping season.

I was always under the impression that the Nez Perce also had the appy's. I am afraid I really can't enlighten anyone on the history of the appy's. Just wanted to let you know that you are not the only one who thougth that.

Huntress

as i understand it there have always been spotted coated horses. when the spanish came to the americas they brought spotted horses with them. some escaped and went wild. as these horses went farther north they encountered different climates and in some cases very harsh terrain and such. the horses that were best suited to these environs survived and the others did not. natural selection if you will. by the time the horses arrived in the pacific northwest to the nez perce, they already had a very hardy breed of horse.

the nez perce then started there own selective breeding to encourage traits that they valued in the horses. endurance, calm nature, and spots were a by product of this breeding. however the native americans found that the spots acted as camoflage really. it broke up the "outline shape" of the horse at a distance, solid color horses were easier to see at a distance. sparse mane and tail was less likely to catch on tree limbs and briars and such. also, the horses hooves were very hard and grew quickly, as well as the horse being an easy keeper (as we call them today). they could go farther on less food and water than the u.s. cavalry's mounts at that time. the horse's name comes from the "palouse" river region(i'm not sure i spelled that right) eventually that became " a palouse horse" then appaloose or appaloosey" eventually appaloosa. nez perce believed as most tribes did that they were the one true people. as to say that whites and other indian tribes were not real people because they had no souls as the nez perce did. nez perce actually is a bastardized french term meaning "peirced nose" and is not the peoples name of their tribe the tribal name was nimi'ipuu which tranzlated to "we the people". the name of there horse translated was "the horse of the one true people." appaloosa is a white man's name for the horse.

chief joseph of the nez perce was famous for leading his people on a 1,300 mile retreat from 2000 u.s. cavalry soldiers in the late 1800's. he engaged the army in 13 running battles during this retreat. all of which the nez perce won, but they could not win the war. cheif joseph was finally overtaken before he was able to get his people across the border to freedom in canada. during the battles the horses of the one true people showed how superior to the cavalry horses they were. outrunning,and out lasting their persuers mounts as well as being fearless in battle. chief joseph is famously quoted upon his surrender as saying "hear me my cheifs, i am tired. my heart is sick and sad. from where the sun now stands, i will fight no more forever." the people were forced onto a reservation in idaho.

after chief joseph's capture most of the appaloosa horses were killed or given to settlers in the area. the breed was nearly lost. most apps. today have far more QH in them than anything. it is this that has led a lot of people to believe that appaloosa just means a certain coloration and not a stand alone breed. certain breeders in the early 1900's realized how special these horses really are and luckily saved the breed. to an extent.

a couple of years ago the nez perce started a new breeding program using the modern day apps. and the alkhal-teke to produce the nez-perce horse.

the apaloosa was actually the nez perce's refinement of already existing traits in the horses in that region.

i hope that kinda helps answer the question.


happy trails,

clint