Continent: America
Country: Brazil
Height: 140 – 154 cm
The Campeiro originates from the highlands of southern Brazil, mainly in the states of Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul. It descends from Iberian horses introduced by Portuguese and Spanish colonists in the 16th century, notably the Barb, the Lusitano, and the Andalusian horse.
Over the centuries, these horses, left in a semi-wild state, adapted to the mountainous terrain and harsh climate of the region. This natural evolution shaped a hardy, frugal, and resilient horse, perfectly suited for agricultural work and extensive cattle ranching practiced in the fazendas of southern Brazil.
The historical heart of Campeiro breeding lies in the state of Santa Catarina, particularly in the high plains of the Planalto Catarinense. This temperate mountain region, with cold winters and abundant natural pastures, favored the development of an enduring, stocky, and resilient horse. The cities of Lages, Campos Novos, and Curitibanos are recognized as the founding centers of the breed, where the first herds were recorded in the 19th century.
Breeding later spread to the neighboring states of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, where the Campeiro found similar ecological conditions: rolling grasslands, humid climates, and a strong tradition of extensive cattle ranching. In these areas, the horse is mainly used for cattle work, light traction, and long-distance travel across uneven terrain. These regions now ensure the continuity and genetic diversity of the breed.
Although its breeding remains geographically limited to southern Brazil, the Campeiro is now recognized as a symbol of rural Brazilian heritage. Preservation and promotion programs, supported by breeders’ associations and the official studbook, aim to maintain the breed’s purity while encouraging its spread to other regions. This local but rigorous management makes the Campeiro a model of balance between genetic preservation and traditional use.
The Campeiro represents an essential link to the Iberian lineage in South America. A direct descendant of Spanish and Portuguese horses brought during the colonial era, it has preserved genes of strength, endurance, and frugality inherited from the Barb and the Lusitano. This natural preservation, without massive modern crossbreeding, makes it a genetically stable and valuable lineage for studying equine adaptation in tropical and mountainous environments.
After centuries of evolution in a demanding environment—rugged terrain, humid climate, and limited resources—the Campeiro developed exceptional biological resilience. Its ability to withstand climatic variations, thrive on poor pastures, and resist endemic diseases makes it a prime genetic resource. These traits are particularly sought after to enhance the hardiness and functional longevity of other working or leisure horse breeds on the continent.
Registered in the Brazilian national studbook since 1985, the Campeiro is officially recognized as a native Brazilian breed. Its genetic heritage contributes to the preservation of local equine biodiversity and the safeguarding of traditional bloodlines adapted to the rural conditions of southern Brazil. This conservation role gives the breed strategic importance in native breed preservation and controlled natural selection programs.
The history of the Campeiro traces back to the early colonization of southern Brazil, when Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors brought the first horses to South America in the 16th century. These horses, primarily of Andalusian, Lusitano, and North African Barb origin, were used by settlers and missionaries for exploration, transport, and cattle herding. Some of them, escaped or abandoned, adapted to the plains and mountains of southern Brazil, forming semi-wild populations of remarkable endurance.
Over time, these horses evolved without artificial selection, under the pressure of climate and survival in the mountainous regions of Santa Catarina and Paraná. This natural selection forged a compact, hardy, frugal, and intelligent horse. The name Campeiro, meaning “field horse” or “horse of the plains,” reflects its adaptation to rural work and free-ranging life on the fazendas of southern Brazil. Local breeders began to value its usefulness in the 19th century, employing it for agricultural work, cattle gathering, and travel over difficult terrain.
Long considered merely a workhorse, the Campeiro was officially recognized as a distinct breed in 1985 by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture. This led to the creation of the national studbook and the Campeiro Horse Breeders’ Association (ACCC), responsible for preserving breed purity and supervising reproduction. Since then, the Campeiro has become a symbol of southern Brazil’s equine heritage, often featured in rural festivals and agricultural exhibitions. It embodies the fusion of tradition, hardiness, and Brazilian cultural identity, and serves as a living example of successful natural selection in a tropical, mountainous environment.
The Campeiro is known for its calm and gentle nature, shaped by centuries of semi-wild living and close contact with humans in rural settings. It shows great emotional stability, making it reliable for long tasks and unpredictable situations. This steady temperament, combined with a natural willingness to cooperate, makes it ideal for farm work, leisure riding, and endurance events.
Accustomed to navigating rough terrain, the Campeiro demonstrates instinctive intelligence and a good sense of footing. It can adjust its gait and balance to the terrain while maintaining excellent responsiveness to rider cues. Described as alert but not nervous, it embodies a balance between liveliness and composure, traits highly valued in working horses.
Deeply attached to its rider, the Campeiro forms a lasting bond of trust, inherited from its historical role in Brazilian fazendas. Breeders praise its loyalty, courage, and perseverance—essential qualities for long rides and demanding tasks. This close human–animal relationship makes the Campeiro not only a dependable workhorse, but also a living symbol of southern Brazil’s gaucho culture.
“The Campeiro is not trained — it is understood.”
Long overlooked outside its Brazilian homeland, the Campeiro is now experiencing a revival of interest thanks to initiatives promoting native genetic heritage. Brazilian institutions, including the Campeiro Horse Breeders’ Association (ACCC) and the official studbook, work to promote the breed nationally. Its inclusion in animal biodiversity inventories strengthens its legitimacy and opens the way for gradual international recognition, especially through cultural and scientific exchanges related to South American native breeds.
In a world increasingly affected by climate change and the need for resilient, low-maintenance animals, the Campeiro offers a balance between hardiness and utility. Its ability to adapt to diverse climates, thrive on limited resources, and maintain natural health has attracted interest from breeding programs seeking to reduce veterinary dependence and preserve genetic diversity. These attributes could establish the Campeiro as a sustainability benchmark for future equine breeding systems.
Despite its strengths, the breed remains numerically limited, posing a challenge for genetic diversity preservation. Current efforts aim to maintain healthy bloodlines through responsible selection. At the same time, the Campeiro is increasingly celebrated as a cultural symbol of southern Brazil, featured in rural festivals, exhibitions, and traditional riding events. By linking cultural heritage and sustainable development, these initiatives ensure a promising future for the breed within Brazil’s equine heritage.
The Campeiro is among Brazil’s toughest horse breeds, the product of long-term natural selection without human intervention. Its development in the mountainous regions of Santa Catarina and Paraná, marked by humid climates and limited resources, fixed genes for resistance to infectious and parasitic diseases. Individuals generally display excellent overall health, long working lives, and fast recovery after exertion.
Living outdoors year-round, the Campeiro shows remarkable resilience to both cold highland winters and humid tropical summers. Its thick skin and dense coat provide natural protection against insects, while its efficient metabolism reduces risks related to poor nutrition or dehydration. Breeders also note low susceptibility to respiratory or digestive disorders, compared with imported breeds.
So far, no major hereditary disorders have been identified in the Campeiro, thanks to the well-preserved genetic diversity of Brazilian herds. However, experts recommend continuous health monitoring to prevent inbreeding, given the limited population recorded in the studbook. Careful breeding management, combined with regular veterinary checks, helps maintain the breed’s genetic vigor and exemplary health standards.
The marcha picada is a natural four-beat gait, characteristic of the Campeiro and other Brazilian marchador breeds. It features a smooth lateral movement, where the limbs on the same side (fore and hind) move almost simultaneously.
This movement produces a steady, silent, and exceptionally comfortable ride, free from the jolts of the traditional trot. The marcha picada allows the Campeiro to cover long distances with minimal energy expenditure, while remaining stable on the rugged terrain of southern Brazil.
Inherited from Iberian horses introduced during the colonial period, this gait reflects the natural and functional selection that shaped the breed — a perfect balance between elegance, endurance, and riding comfort.
The marcha baticada is a natural gait typical of the Campeiro, harmoniously blending the two main types of Brazilian marching gaits: the marcha batida and the marcha picada. It lies midway between a lateral and diagonal motion, producing a smooth, rhythmic, and balanced movement.
This regular four-beat gait provides great riding comfort, while allowing the horse to maintain good speed over long distances. Descended from the Iberian horses of the 16th century, it illustrates the Campeiro’s natural adaptation to hilly terrain and long working days on the fazendas of southern Brazil.
