Continent: America
Country: United States
Weight: 450 – 550 kg
Height: 142 – 163 cm
The North American Curly Horse originates from the northwestern plains of the United States, particularly Wyoming and Nevada, in the 19th century. Horses with naturally curly coats were discovered among herds of wild horses, known as “Curly Mustangs.”
These unusual horses intrigued the Native American tribes, especially the Lakota Sioux, who valued them for their exceptional cold resistance, gentle temperament, and intelligence.
The exact origin of the curly gene remains debated. Several hypotheses exist:
In the 20th century, breeders such as Peter and John Damele (Nevada) began to select and preserve these unique horses, leading to the creation of the official North American Curly Horse breed.
Today, it is recognized for its hypoallergenic qualities, its gentle disposition, and its adaptability to all types of equestrian disciplines.
The North American Curly Horse originates from Wyoming and Nevada, two iconic states of the American West. These semi-arid regions, marked by extreme temperatures and harsh living conditions, helped forge the breed’s legendary hardiness.
The first recognized breeding farms notably those of the Damele family emerged in the early 20th century, across the Great Basin’s mountains and valleys.
From the 1980s onward, Curly breeding spread:
This expansion reflects the growing demand for a robust, versatile, and hypoallergenic horse, adapted to North America’s diverse climates.
Since official recognition, the Curly Horse has been exported to many countries:
These breeding programs aim to preserve the curly gene’s purity and to promote the Curly as a healthy, resilient leisure horse.
Although still modest in numbers (around 4,000 – 5,000 individuals), international associations such as the ICHO (International Curly Horse Organization) and CSI (Curly Sporthorse International) ensure global monitoring and promotion of the breed. Curly breeding today is based on controlled reproduction programs to safeguard its genetic integrity and unique hypoallergenic traits.
The North American Curly Horse holds a singular place in global equine genetics. Its curly coat gene (of dominant origin) is a rare, natural mutation transmitted reliably to its offspring. This gene is not limited to an aesthetic trait it also influences hair and skin structure, making the horse hypoallergenic, a nearly unique characteristic among equine breeds.
The breed was developed from hardy Mustang stock crossed with selected saddle and sport horse breeds such as the Quarter Horse, Morgan, Arabian, and Appaloosa.
This diverse foundation has produced a strong and varied genetic base, ensuring:
The Curly thus represents a reservoir of rare genes, valuable for conservation and for the improvement of rustic or hardy breeds.
The Curly’s curly gene and hypoallergenic properties have attracted modern veterinary and genetic research.
Ongoing studies aim to identify the specific locus responsible for these characteristics to better understand:
In short, the North American Curly Horse represents a precious genetic resource, vital for biological diversity and the future of hypoallergenic breeding programs.
The history of the North American Curly Horse begins in the plains and mountains of the American West, mainly Nevada and Wyoming, during the 19th century. Wild horses with naturally curly coats were observed among the Mustangs descended from Spanish colonial horses.
Their striking appearance curly mane, wavy winter coat, and sometimes even curled eyelashes quickly caught the attention of both settlers and Native American tribes.
The Lakota Sioux and other Plains Nations were among the first to admire and breed these curly horses. They regarded them as spiritual animals and symbols of good fortune, using them for hunting, warfare, and ceremonies. Their strength, cold resistance, and steady temperament made them reliable partners in harsh environments.
In the early 20th century, the breed was rediscovered by the Damele family, cattle ranchers based in Eureka County, Nevada. Peter and John Damele noticed that some of the wild horses they captured survived harsh winters better thanks to their curly coats. They chose to preserve and selectively breed these horses, laying the foundation of the modern North American Curly Horse.
During the 1970s, several enthusiasts founded registries to preserve the breed:
Today, the North American Curly Horse is recognized worldwide for its distinctive curly coat, gentle temperament, and hypoallergenic qualities. It is bred in over 15 countries, used for leisure riding, trail work, therapy, and equestrian shows. Its story reflects the transformation of a wild horse into a living heritage, shaped by natural selection, Native American culture, and the passion of North American breeders.
The North American Curly Horse is renowned for its exceptionally gentle and stable nature. It is a calm, attentive, and thoughtful horse that rarely overreacts to new situations. This inner serenity makes it ideal for beginners, children, and riders with disabilities.
The Curly is an intelligent and curious horse, quick to understand its rider’s expectations.
It has excellent memory and a natural willingness to cooperate, making it well suited for:
The Curly often builds a deep bond with its owner. It is affectionate, gentle in interactions, and sensitive to tone and emotion. Many breeders describe it as a horse that “reads human emotions” and adapts to its handler’s state of mind.
Shaped by generations of natural selection in the harsh climates of Nevada and Wyoming, the Curly has a strong, dependable mindset. It remains steady outdoors, seldom panics, and maintains excellent composure on the trail or in harness. This mental stability, combined with physical endurance, makes it a trustworthy and safe partner for leisure and instruction alike.
Because it seeks harmony and understanding, the Curly responds best to gentle, communication-based training methods. It does not tolerate harshness but thrives when handled with trust and consistency.
The North American Curly Horse is experiencing steady growth in the modern equestrian world, largely due to its unique hypoallergenic quality. More and more allergy-sensitive riders are turning to this breed, making it a true horse of the future for inclusive riding. This biological peculiarity may even inspire the creation of new Curly bloodlines within other breeding programs to broaden access to horseback riding.
Though relatively rare, the Curly Horse is now present on all continents and gaining visibility thanks to breeder associations such as:
This international structure fosters harmonized breed standards and greater genealogical recognition within equestrian federations.
Breeders and riders are increasingly promoting the breed in new disciplines such as light dressage, TREC, equine therapy, and even some combined sport events. Thanks to its balanced temperament, the Curly is increasingly popular in riding schools and tourism centers seeking safe, calm, and low-maintenance horses.
The main challenge for the future remains the preservation of genetic diversity.
With a global population of around 5,000 individuals, breed registries are implementing:
The Curly stands as a model for managing small equine populations responsibly.
With its natural resilience, efficient metabolism, and climatic adaptability, the North American Curly Horse aligns perfectly with today’s goals of sustainable and welfare-oriented breeding. It embodies a new vision of the human-horse relationship, centered on health, gentleness, and inclusivity.
The North American Curly Horse is known for its excellent overall health. Evolving under the tough conditions of Nevada and Wyoming, it developed a solid constitution, remarkable endurance, and natural resistance to common equine ailments. Its efficient metabolism and adaptation to extreme climates make it particularly easy to maintain.
Breeders and veterinarians note that Curlies:
The Curly’s hair and skin structure produce very low levels of allergenic proteins (notably glycoproteins responsible for human allergic reactions). This makes the breed hypoallergenic, allowing people allergic to horses to ride and work with them comfortably. It is a stable genetic trait, inherited dominantly, though its expression may vary among bloodlines.
No serious genetic disorders are known to affect the breed.
However, a few precautions are recommended:
With its longevity (often exceeding 25 years) and overall robustness, the North American Curly Horse represents a model of sustainable equine health. Its strong immune system, environmental tolerance, and balanced physiology make it an outstanding example of natural equilibrium among modern breeds.
