Appaloosa Standard

General Appearance: Symmetrical and smooth, head is straight and lean, showing parti-coloured skin about the nostrils and lips, forehead is wide. Sclera of eyes is white, giving the eyes prominence and adding distinctiveness to head appearance. Ears are pointed and of medium size. Neck shows quality with clean cut throat latch and large wind pipe, chest is deep and blends into a well muscled sloping shoulder. Withers are prominent and well defined, forearm is well muscled, long, flat and tapered down to a broad knee. Cannons are short, wide and flat with wide smooth and well supported forelocks, pastern is medium long and sloping, hoofs are striped, rounded, deep, open and wide at the heels. Back is short and straight, loin is long with flank well let down. Hips are smoothly covered, being long, sloping and muscular. Thighs are long, muscular and deep, blending into well rounded quarters. Gaskins are long, wide and muscular extending to clean, clearly defined straight hocks.

Forelegs: Viewed in front, a perpendicular line from the point of the shoulder should fall upon centre of the knee, cannon and foot. Viewed from the side, a perpendicular line from the elbow joint should fall upon the centre of the knee and the pastern joints and the back of the foot.

Hind Legs: Viewed from behind, a perpendicular line from the quarter should fall upon the centre of the hock, cannon, pastern and foot. Viewed from the side, a perpendicular line from the hip joint should fall upon the centre of the foot and divide the gaskin in the middle, and a perpendicular line from the point of the quarter should run parallel with the line of the cannon.

Weight and Height: Weight usually ranges from 430 to 566 kg (950 to 1250 lb), and height from 14hh to 16hh. The minimum height for a mature Appaloosa (5 years and over) is 14hh. There is no maximum height.

Classification for Registration

Appaloosas are registered in one of four categories:

Category A (Breeding and Showing)
This category is for all Appaloosas of correct pedigree, colour, height and soundness.

Category B (Breeding Only)
This category is for Appaloosa bred stock with insufficient colour. Category B Appaloosas may be bred from, but not shown. If the Appaloosa subsequently colours out they are eligible to be transferred to Appaloosa Category A.

Category C (Showing Only)
This category is for Appaloosas of good type but with no known pedigree, provided the Appaloosa satisfies colour and soundness requirements. These Appaloosas can be shown but not bred from. Council must approve all Category C applications.

Category H (Hardship)
Under special circumstances mares, colts and stallions of unknown breeding may be granted Hardship Registration. No out-crossing with these animals will be accepted. The progeny of these animals will remain in Category H, as will their offspring. Subsequent generations may be advanced to Category A at Council's discretion.


Appaloosas can only be out crossed to approved horse breeds. These include registered Throroughbreds, Quarter Horses and Warmbloods. Appaloosas may be crossed to Arabs, Palominos, Buckskins or Stockhorses subject to A&ASP Inc. Council approval.


A&ASP Inc. does not accept horse to pony breeding.