QUARTER HORSE

The world's most versatile breed also is America's oldest, as the American Quarter Horse's origins trace to 1611 along the eastern seacoast of the New World. It all began with English Colonists crossing their imports with lightning-quick horses obtained from Chickasaw Indians. These horses became favorites of the Colonists, who raced them head-to-head down the dusty lanes of their settlements in short, quarter-mile sprints; such racing led to the breed's early name - the "Celebrated Quarter of a Mile Running Horses."

The breed's inherent agility and disposition made the American Quarter Horse ideally suited for both work and recreation on America's developing frontier. Most notably, American Quarter Horses were ridden by cowboys herding cattle on the great trail drives northward from Texas in the 1800s, and subsequently, on the great ranches of the West, where these horses' prowess is in high demand.
In 1940, a group of ranchers met in Fort Worth, Texas, to form a registry dedicated to "collecting, recording and preserving pedigrees of American Quarter Horses." The resulting American Quarter Horse Association has become the world's largest equine breed registry and recreational organization, with more than 3.6 million American Quarter Horses registered worldwide and AQHA membership numbering 314,000. AQHA's international headquarters in Amarillo, Texas, maintains the pedigrees and registration records of all American Quarter Horses and directs various programs and incentives--including races, shows and recreational activities--which promote America's oldest distinct breed of horse.

Sprinting at speeds of more than 50 miles per hour, American Quarter Horses today retain their legendary racing ability at distances up to a quarter-mile. To catch a glimpse of their blazing speed, head to any of the more than 110 racetracks in the United States, Canada or Mexico, where American Quarter Horse racing takes place year-round. Place a bet on a reliable favorite, or try picking a longshot. Either way, you'll experience the same, heart pounding sensation that hooked Americans long ago and see why the American Quarter Horse is called America's Fastest Athlete.