See If You Can Ace This Horse Breed Identification Quiz

By: Ian Fortey
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
See If You Can Ace This Horse Breed Identification Quiz
Image: FEBRUARY / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Horses have been domesticated for about 6,000 years now, and in that time a lot of stuff has happened.  We invented cavalry, cowboys, Mr. Ed and My Little Pony.  It's safe to say that the bond between humans and horses is pretty strong at this point. Without horses to serve as pack animals, we may never have conquered the Frontier. Fields would never have been plowed, wars would have been lost and you don't want to even know what would have happened to unicorns.  Just be thankful horses have been by our sides for so long.

Given our history with the horse, it's probably no surprise to hear that they have about as much diversity as any other animal.  Maybe even more.  There are well over 300 breeds of horses throughout the world, from the Clydesdale to the Appaloosa to the Mustang and so many more.  It'd be a daunting task to try to get through them all, but if you consider yourself a horse expert then this will be a cake walk.  Or a trot.  Maybe even a gallop.  It's time to put your horse expertise to the test. Take the quiz, prove yourself and ride off into the sunset!

Lipizzaner
Wiki Commons by Anthony Appleyard
This horse breed was immortalized in the Disney movie Miracle of the White Stallions. What is it?
Morgan Horse
Nefza
Lipizzaner
Calabrese
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This breed has been at risk many times over the years, almost being wiped out completely during several wars. Though the breed is well-represented today, all of the current bloodlines can be traced back to eight different stallions from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

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Noriker
Wiki Commons by ArtTecFoto
This Austrian breed was integral in transporting salt, gold and iron to Italy for years. What is it?
Noriker
Campeiro
Percheron
Sheehan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Noriker has been bred for 2000 years, and before they took up residence in Austria they were actually Greek horses bred for war. When Romans spread out to conquer the land, they brought the Noriker with them.

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Lusitano
Wiki Commons by Julia Moll
This Portuguese horse is closely related to the Spanish Andalusian. What is it?
Falabella
Somme Bay Horse
Einsiedler
Lusitano
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Lusitano is one of the oldest breeds of horse in the world. In fact, it's believed their bloodline likely came from horses that roamed the Iberian Peninsula more than 20,000 years ago.

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Falabella
Andyworks / E+ / Getty Images
This breed is one of the smallest horses in the world, but it's not considered a pony. What is it?
Falabella
Tarpan
Galshar
Hungarian Dun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Falabella is a selectively bred horse that is still considered a horse and not a pony, despite the fact that they're under 33 inches in height. Because of their small size and trainability, they tend to make good guide animals.

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Heck Horse
Wiki Commons by Dfoidl
This horse was bred in an attempt to bring back the extinct Tarpan. What is it?
Breton
Kentucky mountain saddle horse
Heck horse
Lichuan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Heck horse is not a particularly devilish horse in any way. its name comes from Heinz and Lutz Heck, the brothers who attempted to breed the extinct Tarpan horse back to life. The Heck horse isn't exactly the Tarpan, but it's as close as they could get.

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Morgan Horse
Pixabay / raventestingsupply
This American breed was used for cavalry on both sides of the Civil War. What is it?
Morgan Horse
Kumingan
Pentro
Samolaco
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Morgan horse is one of the oldest breeds in America and got its name from Justin Morgan, who bred them. The lineage of this horse is fairly well known, and the first ever Morgan horse was named Figure.

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Senner
Wiki Commons by Tsungam
This German horse can be traced back to the 12th Century. What is it?
Tchenarani
Senner
Trakya
Welara pony
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Senner or Senne Horse was bred for an aristocratic family in Germany and has never had a large population. A castle fire in 1945 destroyed most of the breed's breeding records and today they're considered critically endangered with only a handful left in the world.

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American Quarter Horse
Wiki Commons by evelynbelgium
The breed is one of the most closely associated with rodeos and ranches. What is it?
Andean
Walkaloosa
American quarter horse
Tinker horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The American quarter horse doesn't get its name from size or proportions. Instead, the name refers to the breed's ability to put the pedal to the metal over a quarter mile distance, reaching speeds in excess of 50 miles per hour.

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Brumby
Wiki Commons by Robyn MacRae
This Australian breed is feral and considered a nuisance by many. What is it?
Brumby
Trocha Horse
Strelets Horse
Pampa Horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Brumby horse is descended from the numerous horses that were brought to Australia with its earliest settlers. Many horses escaped or were let go and those that survived the harsh conditions created what is now a very tough breed.

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Gypsy Horse
Wiki Commons by Mary E. Graybeal
This wagon-pulling Irish breed is sometimes called the Irish Cob or Vanner. What is it?
Alter real
Criollo horse
Gypsy horse
Perkehner horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Gypsy horse's history is linked with the history of the British Romani people. This breed of horse is most often used to pull wagons in a caravan. They do need specialized training to properly pull the wagons, as a horse that stops on a hill, for instance, might not be able to get the wagon moving again.

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Jeju Horse
Wiki Commons by Moon Young Gun
This Korean breed got started thanks to Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan. What is it?
Ocracoke
Jeju horse
Namaqua pony
Lombok
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jeju horses come from Jeju Island in Korea, and the lineage of the horses dates all the way back to 1276. That was the year Kublai Khan brought 160 horses to the island as a gift for King Chungnyeoul.

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Mustang
Wiki Commons by Ealdgyth
U.S. Congress declared this breed "living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West." What are they?
Kentucky mountain saddle horse
Gala horse
Andalusian
Mustang
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Mustang is one of the most famous breeds in the world an a symbol of power. Mustangs are descended from horses brought to America by the Spanish that then went feral. The name comes from the word "mestena," which refers to a group of wild horses.

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Rocky Mountain Horse
Wiki Commons by Heather Moreton
Though this breed can come in many colors, a chocolate coat with a flaxen tail is preferred. What is it?
Abyssinian
Rocky Mountain horse
Dahoman
Kinsky horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ironically, the Rocky Mountain horse does not come from the Rocky Mountains. It's a Kentucky horse from the Appalachian Mountains. The breed did at least get started thanks to a horse that was from the Rocky Mountains.

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Appaloosa
Wiki Commons by Karakal
This breed is famous for its spotted patterns. What is it?
Kerry Bog pony
Losino
Appaloosa
Baladi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Appaloosa is one of the most popular breeds in America. They were once regarded as strictly a color breed, which means for a horse to be recognized as an Appaloosa it only needed to meet certain requirements for its coat, regardless of breed, but that has since changed.

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Arabian
Wiki Commons by Ealdgyth
This popular breed's bloodline exists in almost every single horse breed alive today. What is it?
Arabian
Catria Horse
Ghazi
Spotted Saddle Horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Arabian breed is thousands of years old and is pretty much the standard for what people think of when they think of a horse. The breed can be found all over the world and has historically been used for war, agriculture, travel, exploring, companionship, sport and everything else a horse can do.

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Thoroughbred
Paul Mansfield Photography / Moment / Getty Images
This British horse is famous for horse racing. What is it?
Akhal-Teke
Thoroughbred
Chickasaw horse
Icelandic horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Thoroughbred is a powerhouse of a horse that has been bred for incredible speed and stamina over the years. The horse has become so popular that there are millions of them around the world. Sometimes people will use the name "thoroughbred" when they're referring to any species of purebred horse, but it is actually its own distinct breed.

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Nokota
Wiki Commons by Seith Zeigler
These feral horses run wild in North Dakota. What are they?
Nokota
Andravida
Sumbawa pony
Trakehner
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nokota horses come from a mixing of Spanish horses and Native American stock. The breed was nearly wiped out in the early 20th century until the Theodore Roosevelt National Park was created, which inadvertently preserved the horses on the land.

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Andalusian
anakondaN / Moment / Getty Images
This breed has a long history of being a war horse. What is it?
Tawleed
Vladimir Heavy Draft
Italian Trotter
Andalusian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Andalusian breed is a Spanish horse that was nearly wiped out as a result of thinning bloodlines and the demands of war. It was thanks to one small herd that was preserved at a Carthusian monastery that the breed was preserved.

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American Paint Horse
Wiki Commons by karakal
This colorful horse is bred specifically for its spot patterns. What is it?
American Paint Horse
Ardahan
Java Pony
Cretan Horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The American Paint is one of the most popular in North America and is bred to produce a wide variety of color patterns. There are even some Paints that have no spots called "Solid Paint-Bred" horses that still qualify as Paints if both of their parents were registered as Paints.

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Tennessee Walker
Wiki Commons by Just chaos
This breed was often the victim of "soring," which involved inflicting pain on the horse's front feet to change how it moved. What is it?
Hackney pony
Abyssinian
Tennessee Walker
Llanero
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Tennessee Walker or Walking Horse is a favorite for its distinctive gait, which makes it a good show horse. Unfortunately, that means many horses were historically abused to amplify or exaggerate that desired gait. The practice was outlawed in the Horse Protection Act of 1970.

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Friesian Horse
Wiki Commons by B0rder
Illustrations of this breed carrying knights date back to the 11th Century. What is it?
Altwurttemberg
Friesian horse
Burmese pony
Caspian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Friesian horse comes from the Netherlands and is traditionally all black. Horses of other colors such as chestnut brown do exist, but they often won't be registered as Friesians if that happens.

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Standardbred
Wiki Commons by Izzypie
This breed is often used for harness racing. What is it?
Standardbred
Kathiawari
International Striped Horse
Mytilene Horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The standard part of the Standardbred name refers to a breed standard. A Standardbred had to be able to trot a mile in under two and a half minutes. Today, most Standardbreds are much faster, though.

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Marwari Horse
anakondaN / Moment / Getty Images
This Indian breed has inward-turning ear tips. What is it?
Andino pony
Marwari horse
Suffolk Punch
Drum horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Marwari Horse's unusual ears bend in so much that the tips will actually touch each other and in some cases overlap. This is actually considered a feature of the breed and is a sign that they're purebred.

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Shire Horse
Wiki Commons by Jessica Stammer Fotografie
This powerful British horse was bred for pulling heavy wagons. What is it?
Shire horse
Asiatic wild horse
Bashkir horse
Mytilene horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Shire horse is a powerful draught horse. A pair of Shire horses pulled a load that was estimated to weigh 45 tons at an exhibition in 1924. The largest horse in recorded history was a Shire horse named Mammoth who weighed over 3,000 pounds.

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Clydesdale
Wiki Commons by Bonnie U. Gruenberg
This breed is famously associated with Budweiser beer. What is it?
Sorraia
Andean
Clydesdale
Nanfan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Clydesdale comes from Scotland, and when they're not pulling around wagons of Budweiser they're often used as show horses with the long hair around their feet fancied up and feathered like they spent the day at the salon.

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Akhal-Teke
Wiki Commons by Ulruppelt
This breed is the national emblem of Turkmenistan. What is it?
Westfalen pony
Poitevin
Mimoseano
Akhal-Teke
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Akhal-Teke is prized for its endurance and were often used as fast-moving war mounts. To prove their stamina, a team of 15 horses traveled 1,800 miles in 84 days back in 1935.

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Haflinger
Pixabay / Alexas_Fotos
This Austrian breed is sometimes called the Avelignese. What is it?
Haflinger
Calabrese horse
Baladi
Esperia pony
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Haflinger is a versatile breed that has been adopted for use in pretty much every way you can use a horse. Unlike many breeds, a Haflinger will always be chestnut in color, though it can range from a lighter to a darker shade.

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Mongolian Horse
Wiki Commons by Latebird
This ancient breed outnumbers the human population where they live. What is it?
Mongolian horse
Ventasso horse
Kiso horse
Basque pony
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Mongolian horse is amazingly well adapted for life in an extremely inhospitable terrain. Summers in Mongolia can reach temperatures of nearly 90 degrees Fahrenheit while in the winter it can dip to 40 below, all of which these horses handle.

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Missouri Fox Trotter
Wiki Commons by Gaitedhorse
This breed was started in the Ozark Mountains. What is it?
Abtenauer
Catria horse
Missouri fox trotter
Hirzai
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Missouri fox trotter gets its name from the way it walks. The "fox trot" describes the horse's smooth gait and also a dance that maybe your grandparents have heard of before.

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Caspian
Wiki Commons by Kerri-Jo Stewart
This ancient Iranian breed is very small but is not technically considered a pony. What is it?
Belgian warmblood
Caspian
Misaki horse
Knabstrupper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Caspian breed is considered extremely old and may even predate the Arabian breed, potentially being the oldest breed of horse that still exists. That said, it was also lost for a while and only rediscovered in 1965.

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Malopolski
Julia Opawska via YouTube
This Polish breed is a mix of Thoroughbred, Arabian and native Polish breeds. What is it?
Bandiagara
Ege Midillisi
Malopolski
Hokkaido pony
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Also called the Little Poland horse, the Malopolski is most often used for riding and also for show jumping, though they also do well with light draft work.

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Knabstrupper
Wiki Commons by Melyni
These spotted Danish horses look like Appaloosas but are not. What are they?
Knabstrupper
Heilongkiang
Ibérian warmblood
Perkehner horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Knabstrupper horse gets its name from Knabstrupgaard, which was a Danish manor. The owner of the house purchased a Spanish horse from a butcher, and that horse was the start of the bloodline.

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Hackney
hackneysaregreat via YouTube
This breed is often used for carriage driving. What is it?
Prairie horse
Tiger horse
Washu horse
Hackney
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Hackney comes from Great Britain and was adopted as a horse well-suited for transportation. Demand for Hackneys as transportation animals was so high before the advent of trains and cars that wealthy landowners were required to keep Hackneys on hand for breeding purposes.

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Paso Fino
Wiki Commons by Soltera
This breed comes from Central and South America as well as Puerto Rico. What is it?
Fell pony
Jaca Gallega
Minho
Paso Fino
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Paso Fino means "fine step," and these horses have been praised for their gait which isn't a step that can be taught to horses, it just comes through genetics.

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Percheron
Wiki Commons by BS Thurner Hof
This old breed originates in France, and is a popular draft horse. What is it?
Aralusian
Percheron
Strelets horse
Trait Du Nord
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Percheron horses are a very old breed of horse that have been used for war as well as raft work. Before the First World War, thousands of Percheron came to the United States.

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Fjord horse
Michael Cummings / Moment Open / Getty Images
This Norwegian breed can trace its roots back to the Vikings. What is it?
Tinker horse
Datong horse
Fjord horse
Baguales
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Vikings bred the fjord horse for both war and agriculture and it's believed that the practice of using horses for agriculture in Europe may have started with the Vikings, who spread it to other cultures.

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Curly
Pixabay / Gigi123
This breed is hypoallergenic. What is it?
Curly
Andean
Qatgani horse
Tawleed
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Curly is also known as the American Bashkir and is most easily distinguished by the curly hair that gives it its name. If the horse has strong curly genes, even its eyelashes will be curly.

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Banker Horse
Wiki Commons by Tania Gail
This feral breed can be found living on islands in North Carolina's Outer Banks. What is it?
Megezh
Vladimir heavy draft
Amur
Banker horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Banker horse is likely descended from Spanish and English horses and its population is looked after by the National Park Service. The animals are monitored to prevent overpopulation as well as diseases, but otherwise are mostly left to do what they want.

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Sorraia
Wiki Commons by Lynne Gerard
It's believed this breed is descended from a very old, primitive breed of wild horse. What is it?
Breton
Sorraia
Highland pony
Noma horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Sorraia horse gets its name from the river basin where it lives. The genetics of this breed have been very closely studied and, oddly, not well understood. In attempting to determine how this breed relates to other breeds, science has mostly determined that it's hard to tell what the closest relative to this horse really is.

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Hanoverian
Jasius / Moment / Getty Images
Members of this breed receive a brand on their hindquarters. What are they?
Selle Français
Mimoseano
Ardennes
Hanoverian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hanoverian horses are often seen competing at high-level sporting events, such as in the Olympics. The breed is kept to a very rigorous standard and those that meet it will be branded with an "H" on their hindquarters and an indication that the horse is a well-bred animal.

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FEBRUARY / Moment / Getty Images