The Chilean horse holds several records for the "oldest horse breed". They are the oldest registered stock horse breed, oldest western Iberian breed, oldest South American registered horse breed and the oldest registered Native American horse breed. Despite all these records the horses are not commonly known outside of South America although they are becoming more common in the southern border states of the United States, more specifically in Texas and New Mexico.
The Chilean Horse was first developed in Peru with horses from Bolivia, Columbia and other South American countries brought together by breeds that were improving the stock horses and military horses that had been bred in the country since the mid 1500's.
The Chilean Horse was developed to work the huge annual cattle round ups that occurred throughout the country. Unlike modern farming the cattle were turned loose to roam, calf and survive on their own, then rounded up, branded, castrated, culled and returned to the grazing lands until the next year. These cattle were truly wild and the horses had to be intelligent, strong, sturdy and fearless.
The Chilean Horse was required to do the same work as the American Quarter Horse, but many of the horses were considerably smaller than the average Quarter Horse. The ideal height for a Chilean mare is approximately 13 hands and a stallion should be approximately 14.3 hands, almost a full hand shorter than the Quarter Horse average.
Since the Chilean Horse was bred to actually pin the steer, or use their chest to hold the steer against a fence or "pin" it, their smaller size was important. A taller, leggier horse would make contact with the steer or cows body at the horses legs, not on the padded and strongest part of the chest.
The Chilean Horse is descended from the original Iberian horses. It has had a closed registry since the breed association was formed in 1893 and has never allowed outside breeds or lines into the stud book or the registry.
The Chilean Horse is now used as a working stock horse on ranches throughout South American and up into the southern United States. They are also uses as rodeo horses and reigning horses and as cutting and roping horses.
The Chilean Horse Amuleto Suertudo has won several National Reining Horse Association (NHRA) titles and is considered to be an ideal example of what a reining horse should be. There are an increasing number of Chilean Horses being used in show competitions, but typically these horses are also working stock horses.
The Chilean Horse has a measurable slower metabolic rate than other horse breeds. This allows them to work for longer periods and require less food intake per day to keep working under the same conditions as other horses. This feature was very important as working stock horses may have to work 12-16 hour days and then graze for their own food in very poor pasture areas at nights.
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