
A part-Arabian, partbred Arabian or, less precisely, half-Arabian, is a horse with documented amounts of
Arabian horse
The Arabian or Arab horse ( , DIN 31635, DMG ''al-ḥiṣān al-ʿarabī'') is a horse breed, breed of horse with historic roots on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easi ...
breeding but not a
purebred
Purebreds are cultivars of an animal species achieved through the process of selective breeding. When the lineage of a purebred animal is recorded, that animal is said to be pedigreed. Purebreds breed true-to-type, which means the progeny of l ...
.
Because the Arabian is deemed to be a breed of purebred horse dating back many centuries, the modern
breed registries
A breed registry, also known as a herdbook, studbook or register, in animal husbandry, the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders w ...
recognized by the
World Arabian Horse Organization generally have tightly
closed stud book
Closed may refer to:
Mathematics
* Closure (mathematics), a set, along with operations, for which applying those operations on members always results in a member of the set
* Closed set, a set which contains all its limit points
* Closed interval, ...
s which exclude a horse from registration if it is found to contain any outside blood. However, Arabian breeding has also been used for centuries to add useful traits to countless other
horse breeds
The following list of horse and pony breeds includes standardized breeds, some strains within breeds that are considered distinct populations, types of horses with common characteristics that are not necessarily standardized breeds but are someti ...
. In the modern era,
crossbreeding
A crossbreed is an organism with purebred parents of two different breeds, varieties, or populations. A domestic animal of unknown ancestry, where the breed status of only one parent or grandparent is known, may also be called a crossbreed though ...
has been popular to combine the best traits of two different breeds, such as color, size, or ability to specialize in a particular
equestrian discipline.
Thus, in the modern era, the desire to recognize and acknowledge Arabian breeding in non-purebred horses has led to the formation of partbred sections in many purebred Arabian registries in order to record the pedigrees of crossbreds. Some registries, particularly those for
sport horses and various
warmblood
Warmbloods are a group of middle-weight horse types and breeds primarily originating in Europe and registered with organizations that are characterized by open studbook policy, studbook selection, and the aim of breeding for equestrian sp ...
s, have an open or partially
open stud book
A breed registry, also known as a herdbook, studbook or register, in animal husbandry, the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders w ...
that still allows some infusions of Arabian blood as well as that of other breeds, sometimes based on a documented Arabian pedigree, sometimes on a pedigree plus a
studbook selection
Studbook selection is a process used in certain breeds of horses to select breeding stock. It allows a breed registry to direct the evolution of the breed towards the ideal by eliminating unhealthy or undesirable animals from the population. The r ...
process. In addition, some particularly successful or popular
designer crossbreds created their own registries, some now closed to most outside breeding, though generally allowing additional infusions of purebred Arabian blood. Some horses may qualify for recording with more than one registry.
Some breeds, such as the
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
, acknowledge Arabian ancestry with named, documented horses in their stud books, but no longer accept new infusions of Arabian blood and the breed is considered a
purebred
Purebreds are cultivars of an animal species achieved through the process of selective breeding. When the lineage of a purebred animal is recorded, that animal is said to be pedigreed. Purebreds breed true-to-type, which means the progeny of l ...
in its own right. Literally hundreds of
horse breed
A horse breed is a selectively bred population of domesticated horses, often with pedigrees recorded in a breed registry. However, the term is sometimes used in a broader sense to define landrace animals of a common phenotype located within a ...
s have some evidence of Arabian influence. In some breeds, such as the
Percheron
The Percheron is a horse breed, breed of draft horse that originated in the Huisne river valley in western France, part of the former Perche province, from which the breed takes its name. Usually gray (horse), gray or black (horse), black in col ...
, Arabian influence is considered highly probable, but dates back hundreds of years and thus is difficult to conclusively prove as pedigree records cannot be linked to individual animals. In other breeds, such as the
Andalusian horse
The Andalusian, also known as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE (Spanish language literally translates to "Spanish pure breed". This name is sometimes capitalized when used in English-language publications, but is all lower-case in Spanish, which ...
or the
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of or less; some have been clocked at speeds up to ...
, documentation of Arabian bloodlines in the breed can be found but either the records are controversial, or the infusion of Arab blood itself was controversial and for various reasons the breed registry today seeks to downplay Arabian type or influence.
Registries
Breed registries for part-Arabians include:
*The USA
Arabian Horse Association's Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian registry: Half-Arabians must have at least 50% Arabian blood and one purebred Arabian parent. Half-Arabians cannot be crossed on other Half-Arabians and produce registerable offspring. Anglo-Arabians have different requirements (see below).
*
Anglo-Arabian
The Anglo-Arabian, also known as the Anglo-Arab, is a horse breed that originated in France by cross-breeding a Thoroughbred with an Arabian. The Anglo-Arabian has origins tracing back to the Limousin Horse. It was officially recognized by Empe ...
or Anglo Arab: A
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
-Arabian cross. Different nations have different standards, but usually Anglo-Arabians must have a minimum of 25% and no more than 75% blood from each breed, which may be done by a first generation cross of an Arabian with a Thoroughbred or by crossing two Anglo-Arabians, or by crossing an Anglo-Arabian on either a purebred Thoroughbred or Arabian. In some nations, partbred Arabians are called "Anglo-Arabians", even if they are not strictly an Arab-Thoroughbred cross
*
AraAppaloosa: An
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa is an American horse breed best known for its colorful spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's co ...
-Arabian cross
*
Morab
The Morab is an American horse developed through the cross-breeding of Arabian and Morgan horses. The breeding of Morab horses began in the late 1880s with the intent of creating a fine carriage horse that was still substantial enough for mo ...
: A
Morgan-Arabian cross
*
National Show Horse
The National Show Horse originated as a part-Arabian cross between an American Saddlebred and an Arabian horse. It is now established as a separate breed, since the founding of a breed registry in August 1981. Registered animals today may be ...
: An
American Saddlebred
The American Saddlebred is a horse breed from the United States. Descended from riding-type horses bred at the time of the American Revolution, the American Saddlebred includes the Narragansett Pacer, Canadian Pacer, Morgan horse, Morgan and ...
-Arabian cross
*
Pintabian: A horse with over 99% Arabian blood and
tobiano
Tobiano is a spotted color pattern commonly seen in pinto horses, produced by a dominant gene. The tobiano gene produces white-haired, pink-skinned patches on a base coat color. The coloration is almost always present from birth and does not ...
coloration; Pintabian horses with a registered Arabian parent also qualify for registration as Half-Arabians
*
Pony of the Americas: A cross between a Shetland Pony, Appaloosa and Arabian
*
Quarab: An
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of or less; some have been clocked at speeds up to ...
-Arabian cross, a few
American Paint Horse
The American Paint Horse is a breed of horse that combines both the conformational characteristics of a western riding, western stock horse with a pinto horse, pinto spotting pattern of white and dark equine coat color, coat colors. Developed f ...
bloodlines are also found in this breed.
*
Welara: A
Welsh pony
The Welsh Pony and Cob is a group of four closelyrelated horse breeds including both pony and cob (horse), cob types, which originated in Wales. The four sections within the breed registry, breed society for the Welsh breeds are primarily dist ...
-Arabian cross.
Open stud books

Horse registries with an open stud book that allow Arabian and part-Arabians as well as other breeds to be registered include:
*
American Warmblood
The American Warmblood is a horse of warmblood type, intended primarily for the sport horse disciplines of dressage, show jumping, eventing and combined driving. As of 2007, the American Warmblood was still too genetically varied to be recogniz ...
: Has an open stud book that allows some Arabians and part-Arabians via a
studbook selection
Studbook selection is a process used in certain breeds of horses to select breeding stock. It allows a breed registry to direct the evolution of the breed towards the ideal by eliminating unhealthy or undesirable animals from the population. The r ...
process.
*
Oldenburg horse: Has an open stud book that allows some Arabians and part-Arabians via a
studbook selection
Studbook selection is a process used in certain breeds of horses to select breeding stock. It allows a breed registry to direct the evolution of the breed towards the ideal by eliminating unhealthy or undesirable animals from the population. The r ...
process.
*
Palomino Horse Breeders of America: A
color breed
{{no footnotes, date=January 2013
A color breed refers to groupings of horses whose registration is based primarily on their coat color, regardless of the horse's actual horse breed, breed or breed type.
Some color breeds only register horses wi ...
registry that accepts horses of
palomino
Palomino is a equine coat color, genetic color in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white mane (horse), mane and tail; the degree of whiteness can vary from bright white to yellow. The palomino color derived from the breeding of Spanish hor ...
color, including part-Arabians and even the occasional
chestnut
The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Description
...
purebred Arabian with
flaxen mane and tail if a light enough chestnut to meet the registry standard. (Purebred Arabians do not carry the
creme gene that produces a true genetic palomino.)
*
Pinto Horse Association of America: An American
color breed
{{no footnotes, date=January 2013
A color breed refers to groupings of horses whose registration is based primarily on their coat color, regardless of the horse's actual horse breed, breed or breed type.
Some color breeds only register horses wi ...
registry for parti-colored horses that accepts part-Arabians with pinto color patterns and a few purebreds if they strongly exhibit the
sabino color pattern that is known to exist in purebreds.
*
Selle Français
The Selle Français (SF) is a horse breed, breed of sport horse from France. An athletic horse with good horse gaits, gaits, it is usually bay (horse), bay or chestnut (coat), chestnut in color. The Selle Français was created in 1958 when se ...
: A French breed with significant Arabian, Anglo-Arabian and Thoroughbred influence.
Partially open stud books that allow Arab breeding
Breeds with a "partially open" stud book, but that still allow new infusions of Arabian breeding, some based only on documented
pedigree, some requiring a pedigree and
studbook selection
Studbook selection is a process used in certain breeds of horses to select breeding stock. It allows a breed registry to direct the evolution of the breed towards the ideal by eliminating unhealthy or undesirable animals from the population. The r ...
, include:
*
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa is an American horse breed best known for its colorful spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's co ...
: Has some Arabians in foundation bloodlines. Allows horses with one
Arabian
The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world.
Geographically, the ...
,
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
, or
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of or less; some have been clocked at speeds up to ...
parent crossed on an Appaloosa parent, so long as the ensuing foal also has
leopard complex
The leopard complex is a group of genetically related Equine coat color, coat patterns in horses. These patterns range from progressive increases in interspersed white hair similar to Gray (horse), graying or Roan (horse), roan to distinctive, Da ...
traits.
*
Chincoteague Pony: Has been strongly influenced through regular crossbreeding to
Arabian
The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world.
Geographically, the ...
stallion
A stallion is an adult male horse that has not been gelded ( castrated). Stallions follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cre ...
s.
*
Colorado Ranger: Similar to Appaloosa, has Arabian foundation stock.
*
Gidran, or Hungarian Anglo-Arab: A Hungarian breed developed from Arabian foundation stock crossed on local horses with infusions of Arabian, Thoroughbred, Anglo-Arab and Shagya breeding. All horses of this breed are
chestnut
The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Description
...
.
*
Purosangue Orientale: An Italian breed developed by crossing Arabians on local horses in
Sicily
Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...
.
*
Sardinian Anglo-Arab, ''Anglo-Arabo Sardo'' or AAS: An Italian breed with a minimum of 25% Arabian blood, developed by crossing Thoroughbred and Arabian stallions on local mares from
Sardinia
Sardinia ( ; ; ) is the Mediterranean islands#By area, second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, and one of the Regions of Italy, twenty regions of Italy. It is located west of the Italian Peninsula, north of Tunisia an ...
.
*
Trakehner
Trakehner () is a light warmblood breed of horse, originally developed at the East Prussian state stud farm in the town of Trakehnen from which the breed takes its name. The was established in 1731 and operated until 1944, when the figh ...
: Still allows infusion of Arabian, Thoroughbred, Anglo-Arabian and Shagya blood in limited circumstances.
"Purebred" breeds with Arabian roots

Breeds significantly influenced by acknowledged, documented Arabian
foundation bloodstock
Foundation stock or foundation bloodstock refers to animals that are the progenitors, or foundation, of a breed or of a given bloodline within such. Many modern breeds can be traced to specific, named foundation animals, but a group of animals may ...
recorded by their breed's stud book during their formative years, but have closed stud books that no longer accept Arabian blood directly include:
*
Shagya Arabian: A Hungarian
horse breed
A horse breed is a selectively bred population of domesticated horses, often with pedigrees recorded in a breed registry. However, the term is sometimes used in a broader sense to define landrace animals of a common phenotype located within a ...
that is predominantly Arabian but with a very small percentage of non-
Arabian
The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world.
Geographically, the ...
breeding.
*
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
: All Thoroughbreds today descend from three Arabian foundation stallions from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
*
Orlov Trotter: A Russian horse breed whose foundation sire was
Smetanka, a purebred Arabian
stallion
A stallion is an adult male horse that has not been gelded ( castrated). Stallions follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cre ...
.
References
{{reflist
Horse breeds
Types of horse
Part-Arabian breeds of horses and ponies