what is an appaloosa?

Answer 1

A specific breed of stock horse... see here for lots of pictures and info... http://www.appaloosa.com/

And here is a link that discusses their long history... http://www.amappaloosa.com/mainpage.cfm?contentid=145

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Remember folks, wikipedia is written by ~anyone~! These two links are legitimate, and one is the actual Appaloosa Horse Club, which is the national registry.

Answer 2

Appaloosa is NOT a breed, as said earlier. Appaloosa is the general term for a variety of colorings resulting in certain genes inherited from the parents. Just like all other white marks, appaloosa is a coloring resulting in certain areas of the horse being blotted out by white, but can also be covered with black, such as the legs of a bay are chesnut but covered in black.

There are many variations of appaloosa markings. The most known is the blanket, a covering of white over the hips and croup of a horse. The blanket can be present on any color, and can have darker spots inside it, or white spots around it, it can contrast with the color around it or blend in with the other color. Another variation is snowflake, in which the horse is dark colored and covered with small white spots, or leopard, which is light with dark spots. Another variation is raindrop, which is a snowflake or leopard with spots shaped like raindrops. Any of these variations can be combined, and can even be combined with a paint pattern! There is no end to the possiblities of appaloosa patterns.

Other indicators of the appaloosa gene is striped hooved, wall-eyed (white around the eyes), bald-faced, and blue-eyed, though a horse does not have to have all of these to be appaloosa and non-appaloosa horses can have some of these traits as well.

The reason some people think appaloosa is a breed is because it occurs more in some breeds than others. People who breed Arabians have strict guidelines, so appaloosas are quickly breed out. Others, like mustangs, have no requirements at all, so the horses breed freely and pass on their spots and blankets. The only horse coloring or gene to have been made into a breed is the paint or pinto, and that is only in America where pintos are prominent and prized. Calling an appaloosa a breed is like saying palominos are a breed.

Answer 3

The Appaloosa is a horse breed with a color preference. It is best known for a distinctive leopard spotted coat color pattern, but also has other distinctive physical characteristics. The Nez Perce tribe of the American Pacific Northwest developed the breed. They were once referred to by white settlers as the "Palouse horse," probably because the Palouse River ran through the heart of Nez Perce country. Gradually, the name evolved into "Appaloosa."

Answer 4

The Appaloosa is a horse breed with a color preference. It is best known for a distinctive leopard spotted coat color pattern, but also has other distinctive physical characteristics. The Nez Perce tribe of the American Pacific Northwest developed the breed. They were once referred to by white settlers as the "Palouse horse," probably because the Palouse River ran through the heart of Nez Perce country. Gradually, the name evolved into "Appaloosa."

Answer 5

Here are a bunch of different answers that I collected from the internet so that you could have multiple opinions-- and not only get wrong ones!

Definitions of Appaloosa on the Web:

Selectively bred for spotted coat pattern by the Nez Perce: generally larger than other Indian horses and now a recognized breed.
www.pbs.org/wildhorses/wh_teaching/wh_glossary.html

an american breed charactorized by having one or more appaloosa charactoristics, such as spots on the coat, mottling, strpied hooves, eye whites, etc. Also any type of horse with these charactoristics of any breed as a color.
www.feed-barn.com/horse-terms.html

an American light horse breed that was bred by northwest Indian tribes near the Palouse valley. It is known for its spotted coat, wispy mane and tail, striped hooves, and white sclera (area around eye). It is very common and is very versatile, used from everything from dressage to rodeo
www.equinekingdom.com/data/horse_glossary/a_terms.htm

a hardy breed of saddle horse developed in western North America and characteristically having a spotted rump
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

The Appaloosa is a horse breed, one of the color breeds, in which the breed has one of several distinct patterns of spots.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appaloosa

Answer 6

The Appaloosa is a horse breed with a color preference. It is best known for a distinctive leopard spotted coat color pattern, but also has other distinctive physical characteristics. The Nez Perce tribe of the American Pacific Northwest developed the breed. They were once referred to by white settlers as the "Palouse horse," probably because the Palouse River ran through the heart of Nez Perce country. Gradually, the name evolved into "Appaloosa."

Answer 7

I think there was a Movie called The Appaloosa Trail

Answer 8

An Appaloosa is a breed of horse normally White and Brown spotty colour although it may not be spots it could be patchy

Answer 9

The Appaloosa stands at between 14hh and 15hh. They have distinctive markings (spotted like a dalmatian dog),and are popular in U.S.A. aswell as here. A very nice horse.

Answer 10

it is a spotted horse. i tried the biggest appaloosa in the UK the other day that was what the man said that was selling it. The horse was 17.3 hh and only 4 years old