"The Cayuse Indian Pony is a Native American horse breed that was developed by the Cayuse people that used to control a vast territory of more than six million acres in what are now the states of Washington and Oregon." - Horse Breeds List: Cayuse Indian Pony

These rare but legendary animals are described as "Spirited, capable, hardy", "lively, adaptable", and generally healthy".

Cayuse Indian Pony Breed Information, History, Videos, PicturesThe Cayuse Pony is a distinct northwest American equine breed that was developed specifically to create a durable and robust pony, which will be able to move through the terrains with high speed. In the 21st century, this breed has become quite rare with the top breeders from California taking serious steps in reviving them […]

Historic Range

"Although the settlers called most horses raised by the American Indians "cayuse ponies", the Cayuse Indian Pony of the Northwest is a distinct breed which originated in the 1800's. Its conformation and its background set it apart from the Mustang, Spanish Barb or other wild horses.

Small and stocky, the Cayuse Indian Pony has high withers and an unusually long canon bone. In addition, its distinctly sloped pastern gives it a broken walking gait. ..."

"The breed's history is obscure and difficult to trace. It has been generally accepted that the Cayuse Indian Pony descended from the French-Norman horses imported into Canada in the 1600s. Most of these French horses were Percherons, which the Canadians used to improve their domestic breeds. The Percheron was a good choice -- it continues to be one of the only work horses which can easily trot for extended periods of time.

Years later, the French Canadians brought their horses into what is now American territory. It was recorded that they bartered their horses in St. Louis with the Pawnee Indians, who then took them further west. Eventually, the Indians crossed their sturdy French horses with the lighter Spanish Barbs to produce a horse which had not only speed, but endurance.

By the 1800s, the Cayuse Indian Pony had become a separate breed. The Cayuse Indians, known throughout the Northwest for their expert horsemanship, continued to develop this French-Spanish Barb strain through selective breeding. Because the French horse had the ability to pass on its tendency for spots or a profusion of white markings, the Cayuse Indians were able to produce some very colorful horses. In fact, the Appaloosa, Paint and Pinto breeds have all been influenced by the blood of the Cayuse Indian Pony.

Today, the breed is seldom seen outside California. Only a handful are even still in existence. Jeff Edwards, co-founder of the Wild Horse Research Center in Porterville, California has gradually been trying to rebuild a herd and protect it from extinction. Over 100 head of Cayuse Indian Ponies were lost several years ago when their pasture land was sprayed with a toxic herbicide.

But the Wild Horse Research Center is optimistic about the breed's recovery. Recently, they donated a Cayuse Indian Pony to the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington with the hope that more people could discover the saga if this unique horse. They are also working with one small stud bunch at the farm and anxiously await the spring foals each year.

The Center has also established a registry for wild horses and ponies possessing barb blood. The Cayuse Indian Pony can now be officially registered as one of the "Horse of the Americas" breeds. Edwards determined the purity of each horse based on its physical characteristics and charts researched by the Wild Horse Research Center." - OK State: Breeds of Livestock: Cayuse Indian Pony

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"... The Cayuse lived along the tributary river valleys in the Blue Mountains. The Tribes lived around the confluence of the Yakama, Snake, and Walla Walla rivers with the Columbia River. "

"The Cayuse Tribe was known for their large horse herds that grazed in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Cayuse ponies were stout and able to move quickly through the steep and timbered Blue mountains Prestige and wealth was partially reflected by the number of horses that a person owned. "

"...The Cayuse used to graze horses all through the Umatilla Basin, across the Columbia River on the Horse Heaven Hills all the way to Hanford to the north, on the east side of the Blue Mountains from the Grande Ronde country all the way to Huntington, to the John Day River country in the South and all the way to the Cascades in the west. " - A Brief History of CTUIR

Grassland

Forests

Mountains

Kiger Mustang

"Oregon's very own wild horse. Known for stamina and agility both in the arena and on the trail. They even made it onto the big screen in the animated movie with Matt Damon called, “Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron.”

Adoption events only happen once every three to four years and as you could guess, they are very popular events! The Kiger is a specific type of Mustand with Spanish background and dun factor. “Dun factor” is a gene that dilutes the coat color and adds primitive markings such as the dorsal stripe down the back and zebra markings on the legs." - Discover the Horse: Kiger Mustang

Kiger mustang - Wikipedia

Historic Range

"The Kiger mustang is a strain of mustang horse located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. The name applies only to wild-captured individuals and does not apply to their bred-in-captivity progeny, which are known as Kiger horses. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administers two herd management areas for Kiger mustangs in the Burns District—Kiger and Riddle Mountain, in the Steens Mountain area. DNA testing has shown that Kiger mustangs are descended largely from Spanish horses brought to North America in the 17th century, a bloodline thought to have largely disappeared from mustang herds before the Kiger horse populations were discovered in 1977.[1] " - Wikipedia: Kiger Mustang

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"Discovered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1977, these wild horses were found on the high desert of southeastern Oregon. Rumors had circulated for years in Oregon about the line-backed mustangs called “Oreanas” and their similarity to Spanish horses. Government officials agreed that here was a special horse. Individuals in the herd were strikingly similar in color and conformation, and had distinct dun markings (stripes on legs, for example). For preservation’s sake, they moved the small band of horses to the north end of Steens Mountain near Kiger Gorge, from where the breed takes its name. This group of horses became pivotal to the Kiger program." - Erenow: Steens Mountain Kiger

"These wild horses were known for their intelligence, ability to easily scale rocky hillsides and nimbly cover rugged territory. They were admired for their Spanish conformation, their long flowing manes and tails, and their remarkable primitive coloration. These horses were rumored to have been related to the ancient horses of the Spanish Explorers." - Kiger Mesteño Association

Deserts

Mountains

Maintaining Healthy Genetics Between 2 Herds

"Discovery of the Kiger mustang was the result of a BLM mustang roundup in the Beatys Butte area[5] in Harney County in 1977. During the roundup, it was noticed that among the horses collected from the area, there was a group with similar color and markings. DNA testing by the University of Kentucky showed close relation to the Iberian horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish in the 17th century. These distinct horses were separated from the other horses and the BLM placed two groups in separate areas of Steens Mountain to preserve the breed. Seven horses were placed in the Riddle Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA) and twenty in the Kiger HMA.[1]"

...

"The Kiger HMA, 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Burns, Oregon, and 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Diamond, Oregon, covers 36,618 acres (148.19 km2) and hosts a population that ranges between 51 and 83 horses. The Riddle Mountain HMA, 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Burns, covers 28,000 acres (110 km2) and contains between 33 and 56 horses. Horses are sometimes exchanged between the herds to maintain the highest possible level of genetic diversity. After roundups, horses with the desired physical characteristics (including phenotype and coloration) are returned to the herds to maintain a high quality of breeding stock.[9] The herds are rounded up every three to four years, and excess horses are auctioned to the public. ..." - Wikipedia: Kiger Mustang

Colouration Division Between Herds

"In 1979, the small band of Spanish-looking horses were moved to two separate areas on Steens Mountain—Kiger HMA and Riddle Mountain, just a few miles east of Kiger HMA. It was decided they would be grouped and managed differently in each area according to distinct characteristics, with the dun and grullo colors being in one group, while dorsal stripes and dark borders on the ears were in another. The BLM retained as much as possible the dun and grullo coloring of the horse, but did allow a margin for white markings, off coloration, and a variety in body color.

The BLM modified its plans in the late 1980s to create uniformity between the Kiger and Riddle areas. Many horses that had non-dun coloration or white markings, or were dun in phenotype but varied in color genotype, were made available to the public. Horses of non-conforming colors have continued to surface in the herds occasionally and are also made available at adoptions." - Erenow: Steens Mountain Kiger

Nez Perce Horse

"The Nez Perce Horse is a spotted horse breed of the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho. The Nez Perce Horse Registry (NPHR) program began in 1995 in Lapwai, Idaho and is based on cross-breeding the old-line Appaloosa horses (the Wallowa herd) with an ancient Central Asian breed called Akhal-Teke.[1]

This program seeks to re-establish the horse culture of the Nez Perce, a tradition of selective breeding of Appaloosa horses and horsemanship that was nearly destroyed by the U.S. Government in the 19th century. The breeding program was financed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Nez Perce Tribe and a nonprofit group called the First Nations Development Institute, which promotes such businesses.

...

The Akhal-Teke is an ancient breed that originated in Turkmenistan (near Afghanistan). They are known for their superb endurance and "metallic" coats. The Akhal-Teke coat colors commonly include palominos, buckskins, and dark bays. A typical Nez Perce Horse is a buckskin or palomino with Appaloosa characteristics—mottled skin with a spotted coat or a blanket.

The Nez Perce Horse's conformation is longer and leaner than the Quarter Horses or other stock horses of the Western U.S., with narrower shoulders and hindquarters, a longer back, and a lean runner's appearance. They are good at long rides and compete well in endurance races; they are also good jumpers. The Nez Perce Horses are often gaited, with a fast and smooth running walk.

The Nez Perce people are historically known for their selective horse breeding practices, according to NPHR breeders Jon and Rosa Yearout.[3]" - Wikipedia: Nez Perce Horse

Historic Range

The uplands of Idaho

Nez Perce Horse - Wikipedia

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Grassland

Organizations

International

Kiger Horse Association

North America

USA

American Wild Horse
BLM Off-Range Corrals & Adoption Centers "The BLM maintains a large network of permanent off-range corral adoption and purchase centers to facilitate the placement of wild horses and burros into private care through the Adoption and Sales Programs. Each off-range corral varies in its operating hours and how it conducts an adoption. Some corrals are located within a correctional facility and only conduct periodic public adoption events, while others are open for walk-up visitation during open hours and some are appointment-only. "
Love Wild Horses "saving the last of America’s icons of the West, from slaughter and extinction, with humane, innovative on range holistic land and water conservancy practices, for the mutual symbiotic benefit of the wild ones, wild places and humanity; inspiring the wild heart of the West to live on, today and for future generations to come."

Lovewildhorses.orgIntroducing Climate Change -Wildfire Mitigation Land Revitalization Studies

California

Wild Horse Sanctuary "In 1978, rather than allow 80 wild horses living on public land to be destroyed, the founders of the Wild Horse Sanctuary made a major life decision right then and there to rescue these unwanted horses and create a safe home for them. And just as quickly, they launched a media campaign to bring attention to the plight of these and thousands of other wild horses across the west that eventually led to a national moratorium on killing un-adoptable wild horses.

The Sanctuary is located near Shingletown, California on 5,000 acres of lush lava rock-strewn mountain meadow and forest land. Black Butte is to the west and towering Mt. Lassen is to the east."

Idaho

First Nations Development Institute "improves economic conditions for Native Americans through direct financial grants, technical assistance & training, and advocacy & policy."

Oregon

Kiger Mesteño Association "welcomes you to learn more about the iconic wild Mustang that has come to be known as the Kiger Mustang."
Steens Mountain Kiger Registry