ICAA defines "purebred" as a horse with eight generations
of like "breed" ancestors without any cross-breeding with other "breeds"
THEREFORE: The "APPALOOSA PUREBRED" does not yet exist.

Does the word "standard" mean "ideal" or "average"?
Or does it refer specifically to "type"?

With these thoughts in mind, it is difficult at best to describe the ICAA's
"breed standard" beyond the generalized "four legs, two ears, two eyes,
clean throatlatch, suitably sized hooves, good bone, suitably deep heart girth,
some form of a mane and tail, form-to-function...
 ...and a coat pattern."

Within the Appaloosa realm exists various segments of belief. One segment relates all heritage of the Appaloosa to the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas -- the Native Americans. Another segment staunchly defends the "Iberian/Spanish" influence. Yet another studies herds from Russia known to be so remote that cross-breeding simply isn't a factor. Others defend the evolution of the "modern Appaloosa" as being a natural outgrowth and refinement of the mixed heritage that all American horses began with.

ICAA, as an organization, cannot dictate what the "standard" of something that doesn't exist "should be." It is the horse itself that will define its own standard as the true blood-breed emerges. As the breeders create deeper pedigrees-- breeding F-4's to create F-5's, F-5's to create F'6's--the blood-breed "standard" that evolves will depend in great part on the choices the breeder makes in crossing stallions and mares.

 It is the breeder's prerogative and responsibility to choose complimentary stallions and mares for his/her breeding program, as the quality of the breeding stock plays a tremendous role in the resulting offspring. Ultimately what one aims for is to produce offspring that is better all-around than either parent. It is of vital importance, therefore, that all breeders--large and small--choose carefully for breeding complimentary horses, the best-to-the-best, taking into account conformation, disposition, color and traits, and pedigree.

BREED "STANDARDS"

Desirable Traits/Characteristics: ( not all need be present)

• Coat pattern easily recognized from at least 15 feet away as "Appaloosa"

• White sclera encircling the iris of the eyes

• Eyes may be of any color or mixture of color (heterochromatic); most commonly brown, though hazel, blue, blue-flecked, etc. are also common

• Mottling of the skin around the eyes, muzzle, sheath/udder, under the tail

• Striped hooves except on legs with white markings

• White stockings not to be higher than the middle of the knee or hock

• Height at least 14 hh at the age of five years (this trait is a requirement)

• Round front hooves of equal and appropriate size to support the horse; oval- ish rear hooves of equal size and shape, and capable of supporting the structure of the horse

• Hard hooves, may require infrequent trims

• A mane and a tail -- ranging from sparse to full and flowing

• Two ears of equal size and shape; ears on mares of a larger size than found on the male horses as stallions tend to find larger ears more communicative of the mare's desires--ears of either sex should be fully mobile in all directions, and stand alert and forward when the horse's attention is focused

• Head of complimentary size in relationship to the neck and body of the horse; may be of any profile except extremes of those profiles

• Throatlatch that is of appropriate size to permit ease of breathing; the width of a normal-size fist should be able to fit between the jawbones

• Neck should be long enough and mobile enough to work in conjunction with head position to facilitate balance

• Neck ties in at the shoulder at an angle appropriate for the work bred for--that is, hunters and sporthorses should have a naturally higher neck set than one bred to work cattle

• Shoulder angle should permit free and smooth movement of the front legs

• Withers should be prominent

• Heartgirth should be deep with well-sprung ribs so that breathing during exercise is easier 

• Barrel/Back length would be expected to be somewhat longer in mares as compared to stallions or geldings simply because there needs to be room for foal-growth and development; excessively long or short backs should be avoided in either sex as long backs tend to be weaker over time and short backs tend to cause interference with the movement of the legs

• Topline should be level or slightly uphill to enhance impulsion and gait

• Hind legs at first glance may appear "cow-hocked" (actually "toed-out" but with straight legs; the turned-out angle is due to the skeletal structure of the pelvis and the hip joint itself) ONLY ENOUGH for the gaskin to clear the abdomen as the horse moves out with impulsion or to balance cleanly during a sliding stop (NOTE: "cow hocks" as a conformational flaw have a broken line at the hock from the point of the hip to the center of the pastern; the toed-out description for ICAA standards does NOT have the line broken. This is an important differentiation.)

• Over-step at the working or medium walk and trot, when unmounted, where the imprint of the hind foot reaches in front of the imprint left by the front foot on the same side; the distance forward of the hind's imprint should increase in relationship to the impulsion of the horse

• "Shuffling" (if present) should be as a fourth gait, and be a rhythmical one-two-three-four beat; "shufflers" should be able to also perform at a trot when requested

• General conformation flaws should be avoided (e.g., over at the knees, ewe neck, pig eyes, parrot mouth) as they tend to have a negative impact on the soundness and athleticism of a horse of any breed