Breed Standards

Artwork by Laura Lyon

An ICAA accepted “Appaloosa” coat pattern, easily recognized from 15 feet away.

White sclera encircling the iris of the eyes; mottling of the skin, most noticeable around the eyes, sheath/udder, and under the tail; vertically striped hooves on legs without white leg markings.

Height must be at least 14-hands at the age of five years old.

Manes and tails can range from short and sparse to long and full

Straight, lean head with a clean-cut throatlatch; an ample chest, expanding into a deep heart girth; prominent, well-defined withers extending into well-sloped shoulders; the back has a short appearance with a well-sprung ribcage, leading into a medium-length underline; long, sloping hip and croup; long, wide forearms and gaskins, leading into short, flat cannons and clean, straight hocks; adequate length and slope to pasterns; hard hooves with wide heels, of adequate size, set on legs that are well-placed under the body to support the horse. 

Free from any unsoundness and/or genetic defects.

ICAA uses the full-generation concept of eight-generations with no out-crossing to produce a true purebred Appaloosa, following the generally accepted genealogy method for generation identification.   

• The horse itself is not counted as a generation.      
• The horse's parents are the first generation.  
•  The grandparents are the second generation.  
• The great-grandparents are the third generation, and so on.

It is the ICAA Appaloosa breeder's responsibility to choose quality Appaloosa stallions and mares that complement each other, and to eventually produce offspring of Appaloosas eight-generations deep and deeper, with each new generation being better all-around than either parent.​

Approximate Percent Blood Influence per Generation

In pedigrees, the first generation is an individual's parents.

If the ancestor appears in the _____ generation, then it contributes _____ blood to an individual

First Generation = 50.00 percent

Second Generation = 25.00 percent

Third Generation = 12.50 percent

Fourth Generation = 6.25 percent

Fifth Generation = 3.125 percent

Sixth Generation = 1.5625 percent

Seventh Generation = 0.78125 percent

Eighth Generation = 0.390625 percent