AQPS ("Autre Que Pur-Sang"), translated as "Other than Thoroughbred" (not "Other than Pure-Blood"), is a general term used in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

to refer to horses not listed as

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

s but destined to race. Anglo-Arabians, Selle Français (or French Riding Horse), and French Trotters plus all other crossbreds can be qualified, in theory, as AQPS. However in practical terms an AQPS is akin to a Thoroughbred but not eligible to that breed's stud-book. The designation usually means one parent is not listed in the

stud book and almost always applies to those horses with Selle Français breeding in the dam line, be it very remote through repeated crosses with TB stallions. Reverse crosses are also performed by crossing a Thoroughbred mare with an AQPS-approved stallion, and this has met with success on the race-track. For many years the AQPS were registered for administrative purposes as Selle Français. Since 2005 an AQPS studbook is now maintained with its specific breeding rules. The AQPS racing breed developed around the end of the 19th century when French farmers began to cross cart horse mares with

stallions to produce a fast and hardy horse that has proven to be best suited for

steeplechase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

racing. The French national studs made available to local breeders at affordable prices "stayer" TB stallions which were disregarded by the flat-race industry. The average person most likely would not be able to see any difference between an AQPS and a Thoroughbred as evolution of the breed has resulted in AQPS horses today being a minimum of 87.5 percent Thoroughbred. The remaining 12.5 percent must be French saddle-bred, usually from AQPS itself but Selle Français and Anglo-Arab blood is also permissible. The fact that many AQPS horses have now over 98% of Thoroughbred blood is raising questions about the relevance of the breed. The Association des Eleveurs d'AQPS is a member partner in the French Racing and Breeding Committee (FRBC). If anything, the AQPS is a form of repeat of what was done in England 300 years ago with the Thoroughbred, albeit with French foundation mares. Probably the best-known AQPS horse in the world is

Al Capone II Al Capone II (20 March 1988 – 21 October 2020) was a French Autre Que Pur-Sang (AQPS), translated as ''Other than Thoroughbred'') steeplechaser. Sired by the Selle Français jumper Italic, and out of the Thoroughbred mare L'Oranaise, he is a ...

, who won the

Grade One Grade 1 may refer to: *First grade, the first school year of primary education. *A Grade 1 Graded stakes race horse race * ''Grade One'' (TV series), a 2014 Chinese TV variety show *Grade 1 listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed b ...

Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris The Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is a Group 1 steeplechase in France which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Auteuil over a distance of 6,000 metres, and during its running there are twe ...

in 1997 plus seven consecutive Grade One

Prix La Haye Jousselin The Prix La Haye Jousselin is a Group 1 steeplechase in France which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Auteuil over a distance of 5,500 metres (about 3 miles and 3½ furlongs), and it is scheduled ...

steeplechase races at Auteuil Hippodrome from 1993 through 1999. His full brother The Fellow won the

in 1990, the

in 1991 and enjoyed even greater success in England where he won the King George VI Chase in 1991 and 1992 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1994. First Gold met with success in the King George VI Chase in 2000, winning by 12 lengths, and followed on to win the Punchestown Gold Cup. Mon Mome, winner of the Grand National in 2009, followed by

Neptune Collonges Neptune Collonges (foaled on 25 April 2001) is a retired AQPS racehorse. He was bred in France as an AQPS (a selle-français warmblood with predominantly thoroughbred parents) and trained in Great Britain. His most noted success came when win ...

in 2012 are AQPS horses, as is Orphée des Blins, winner of The Grand Pardubice Steeplechase 2012, 2013 and 2014 and

Edredon Bleu Edredon Bleu (26 April 1992 – 28 September 2018) was an AQPS National Hunt racehorse. He was bred in France but trained for most of his racing career in the United Kingdom. He was a specialist steeplechaser who recorded most of his wins o ...

, winner of the Champion Chase in 2000 and the King George in 2003.

References

French Racing and Breeding Committee

{{Equine, state=collapsed Types of horse Horse racing in France Part-Arabian breeds of horses and ponies