Hairlessness is rare in horses. While selective breeding produced several hairless breeds in other domestic animals, no truly hairless horse breeds exist. There are anecdotal accounts of hairless horses throughout history. Some horse breeds are mistaken for hairless horses due to their fine coats. Most truly hairless horses born today have Naked Foal Syndrome (NFS), a fatal genetic disorder.

There are hundreds of horse breeds found around the world, each uniquely adapted to their local environment and their role in human society. These breeds vary widely in appearance, size, and conformation, reflecting the particular conditions of their selective breeding. Some are strong and heavy, ideal for farm work or pulling loads, while others are swift and agile, perfect for racing or equestrian sports.

The Przewalski’s horse is an endangered equid native to the steppes of Central Asia. Named after the Russian explorer Nikolai Przewalski, who first described them in the late 19th century, these horses have a robust build, a thick, upright mane, and a dun coat with dark legs.

Gaited horse breeds have the natural ability to perform ambling gaits not observed in other equines. While different breeds have unique gaits, most gaited horses share a common genetic mutation linked to ambling patterns of locomotion. These breeds gained popularity in certain regions for their smooth gaits, historically offered advantages for long-distance travel over rugged terrain.

The Carolina Marsh Tacky is a critically endangered horse breed native to the low country of South Carolina. These horses belong to a group of Colonial Spanish breeds descended from Iberian horses brought to America by early Spanish explorers.

Draft horses are heavy breeds originally developed as working animals. Selective breeding for size and strength produced equines that are significantly larger than most modern riding breeds. Some historians believe draft breeds descend from Medieval Europe’s famous “Great Horse.” But most drafts throughout history worked in agriculture, hauling heavy loads and pulling farm equipment. While some communities still rely on draft horses as working animals, these gentle giants can also make excellent recreational horses. However, due to their size draft horses have unique health and management needs.

The Dutch Warmblood is a sport horse breed that is managed by the Royal Warmblood Horse Studbook of the Netherlands (KWPN). The breed is highly regulated to ensure the quality and performance of registered horses. The KWPN distinguishes horses between five breeding directions in North America: dressage, jumping, hunter, harness, and Gelders horses. All breeders aim to produce horses that can perform at the top level of their discipline.

The Spotted Saddle Horse is an American gaited breed from central Tennessee. These horses descend from small pinto Spanish-type horses and are closely related to the Tennessee Walking Horse. Unlike other gaited breeds developed in the region, all Spotted Saddle Horses have pinto patterns. Their striking colouring and comfortable gaits make them a popular pleasure horse in the southeastern United States.

The Lusitano is an Iberian horse breed from Portugal. These horses are closely related to Spanish PREs, with both breeds sharing the same studbook until the two countries established separate registries in the 1960s. Their name comes from the ancient Roman name of the region where these horses originated, Lusitania. The Iberian ancestors of Lusitanos rose to fame as war horses. But today, most Lusitanos are recreational sport horses.

The Falabella is the smallest breed of horse in the world, typically standing between 28 to 34 inches tall at the withers. Despite their diminutive size, they possess all the features and proportions of a typical horse. Falabella horses are incredibly rare and make up a tiny portion of miniature horses registered annually.