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Kathiawari
Kathiawari: This breed from India originated in the Kathiawar peninsula and is probably a mix between the Arabian and other native stock of mixed breeds that inhabitated the provinces down the western coast as far as maharashtra. They were originally bred as a desert war horse for use over long distances in rough terrain. They are currently used as mounted police horses and for the sport of tent pegging.
They are quite similar to the Marwari horse, another breed from India, having much of the same history and physical features. The main difference between the two breeds is their original geographic origin, Kathiawaris are from the Kathiawar peninsula while Marwaris are mainly from the Marwar region.
Kathiawaris tend to have slight facial differences from the Marwari, and are slightly taller in general. The horse also resembles the Arabian horse, which greatly contributed to the development of the breed.
The best quality of the breed are under 15 hands, horses over this height often appear coarse and deviate from the desired breed type. The breed is found in all colors, except for black. Chestnut is the color seen most often, followed by bay, gray and finally dun. Many dun horses exhibit primitive markings, which shows a possible connection to the Tarpan. Pinto patterns do exist, but are extremely rare.
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This breed has great endurance and stamina, able to withstand the desert heat and survive on minimal food and water, a result of their Arabian ancestry. Highly prized, they were originally bred by wealthy families, each specialized in it's own strain, usually named after their foundation mare. One of the breed's most distinctive features is its ears, which curve inward to touch and sometimes overlap at the tips. 