War Horses

• Before arriving in America, a war horse used in combat by Genghis Kahn is considered the foundation of the American Appaloosa. The early horses eventually made their way into Europe and were employed as war horses by various kingdoms and empires. It is believed the Nez Perce acquired horses after the Spanish brought them to the Americas around 1730. This tribal group quickly realized that they could use the steeds for hunting, racing, transportation and for warfare. Originally, the Nez Perce had bred and used dogs as a form of transportation; and in time, they used this knowledge to breed and train the Appaloosa for speed, strength and endurance.
  
  

Appearance

• Appaloosa horses have spotted patterns that are located on their hips, back and loins. They have striped hooves and molted pink skin that lies near their nostrils, and they are also identified by their white sclera, or white part of their eyes, which is unique to this breed. Facial markings for these horses include the star, stripe, snip, blaze and bald face. Leg markings also distinguish these creatures from other horses.
  
  

Warfare

• American settlers were moving further west, and to avoid loosing their lands and fighting a war, some Nez Perce Indians signed a treaty with the United States. This treaty proved ineffective and by 1877 many Nez Perce had to leave their lands to avoid bloodshed. They made a trek toward Canada while being chased by 2,000 U.S. soldiers. The Nez Perce managed to outrun U.S. forces, thanks to the Appaloosa, but at various points along the journey they had to fight battles against these troops. The Nez Perce had fewer than 200 warriors, but they had a battlefield advantage against the U.S. Army because of the Appaloosa. These horses allowed the Indians to consistently outflank, evade and outsmart their enemies.
  
  

Final Battle

• After holding off the U.S. Army for nearly six days, the Nez Perce had to surrender; they were less than 50 miles from the Canadian border where they had tried to flee. U.S. Army officials realized how significant the Appaloosa horse was to the Nez Perce since it allowed them to defeat American forces for more than a three-month time period. U.S. soldiers had rounded up the remaining Appaloosas and either exterminated them or let them loose in the wild. Nez Perce tribal members created a registry for the Appaloosa in 1995, and they are now breeding and training these horses once again.