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Appaloosa
Appaloosa Horse: The earliest evidence of horses with a spotted coat pattern is from the cave paintings dating from the Upper Paleolithic era, circa 18,000 BC found at Lascaux and Peche-Merle in France. Ancient artists painted these pictures as part of special rites, hoping for successful hunts and plentiful food. The Spanish introduced horses to Mexico in the 1500s. Following the Pueblo Revolt, horses rapidly spread throughout North America, reaching the Northwest around 1700. 
The Nez Perce tribe became excellent horsemen and breeders, creating large herds renowned for their strength, intelligence and beauty. 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.
The Appaloosa is a horse breed with unique characteristics that include coat pattern. It is best known for a distinctive leopard spotted coat color sometimes called a "blanket".
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