The Spanish Colonial Horse was the common mount for the Native American and as such was targeted in the late 1800s during the Anglo expansion in North America. The practice of shooting the stallions, replacing them with ‘blooded’ or ‘draft’ stallions in an attempt to ‘improve’ the feral herds caused its near extinction. Their salvation is largely due to the efforts of the Spanish Mustang Registry, the Bureau of Land Management, and other concerned individuals. Please refer to “North American Colonial Spanish Horse Update” by Dr. D. Phillip Sponenberg for details.

Called The World's Noblest Horse, the Colonial Spanish Horse is an extraordinary breed, with North African Berber origins. This agile desert breed was crossed with the Iberian horses of Spain and Spanish Jennet horses, resulting in a regal yet versatile breed. Famous by the Middle Ages and much sought after by the Royal Stud farms of Europe, a Royal Edict charged the Spanish Conquistadores with introducing the Colonial Spanish Horse to the New World through the Caribbean. The Colonial Spanish Barb became the horse of choice among early Spanish settlers, later the Mexican vaqueros and ultimately the cowboy.