Chicasaw Pony Some Gaited, Some Not Gaited

Country of Origin: United States
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Cracker Horses have been known by a variety of names: Chickasaw Pony, Seminole Pony, Marsh Tacky, Prairie Pony, Florida Horse, Florida Cow Pony, Grass Gut and others. The ancestors of today's Cracker Horses were introduced into what is now Florida as early as 1521 when the Spaniard, Ponce de Leon, on his second Florida trip, brought horses, cattle and other livestock.

History:

These horses are mostly from Iberian Horse Blood: Oriental, Arabian, Barb and Turkman. Many of the Spanish horses were traded, stolen or escaped and were caught and bred by the Native Americans. These animals were the foundation for the American Mustang. The Chicasaw Indians did their own special breeding to incorporate speed and quickness. The colonists used the Chicasaw pony for its speed and bred it with Thoroughbreds from 1746 to the 1800s. The most notable Thoroughbred sire was Janus, a great grandson of the Godolphin Barb. Janus was well muscled and close coupled. His genetic material went on to be the foundation for the American Quarter Horse.

Physical Description:

The Chicasaw Ponies are under 14 hands, well muscled, close coupled, extremely fast over short distances--sprinters.

Interesting Note:

Determined efforts are now being made to preserve the remaining wild horses by the BLM, and organizations such as Wild Horse Research Center at Porterville, CA, the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros in Scottsdale, AZ, and the North American Wild Horse and Range Systems. Important strains of Mustang are being recognized and preserved, such as the Cayuse Indian Pony, Chickasaw Indian Pony (also known as Florida Cracker Horse), Spanish Barb, the Rocky Mountain Horse, and the Kiger Mustang.

The Chicasaw Pony developed in different ways. Some were bred to the Thoroughbreds and other breeds, as well. The gaits would depend on the cross breeding. For example, many of the Carolina Marsh Tacky horses are gaited as are many of the Florida Cracker horses. Differences in geography, food, and cross breeding have a tremendous impact in the development of the different horses.

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