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Appaloosa - A breed favored by Native Americans throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Appaloosa - The modern Appaloosa has a muscular build and several color patterns.

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Appaloosa - The breed is characterized by mottled skin and striped hooves.

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Wild at heart - Some of the best locations to observe wild horses include Virginia Range, NV.

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American paint horse - They were brought to North America by Spanish explorers in the 16th century.

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American paint horse - The American paint horse is another breed used extensively by Native Americans.

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American paint horse -

Paints come in a variety of colors, and today are prized ranch horses.

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Free-roaming horses - The vast plains of central Oregon enclose Forest Service land where herds of wild horses can be admired.

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Spanish Mustang - This horse is the original Native American breed.

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Spanish Mustang - The animal descends from 16th-century horses ridden by conquistadors.

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Hoofing it! - One of the great spectacles of the American West, a herd of wild horses kicking up dust at full gallop.

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American quarter horse - The American quarter horse was introduced to the United States in the early 1600s.

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American quarter horse - Powerful and sturdy, this breed can run a short distance over a straightaway faster than any other horse.

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American quarter horse - Pioneers heading west preferred the breed for its ability to outmaneuver cattle, and it quickly became the cowboy's favorite.

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A symbol of the American West - Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND is home to nearly 200 free-roaming horses.

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Equine haven - Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary at Hot Springs, SD is home to America's largest wild horse herd.

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Paso fino - A naturally gaited light horse breed, it dates back to horses imported to the Caribbean from Spain by Columbus in the late 15th century.

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Paso fino - Lively and possessing of an an amiable disposition, the horse is a very popular choice for trail riding.

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Ranch vacation - Admiring penned herds of untamed horses is a highlight of any ranch or trail riding vacation.

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American cream draft - This is the only breed of draft horse developed in the United States that is still in existence today.

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American cream draft - The horse is a rare breed characterized by its cream coat, pink skin, and amber-colored eyes.

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Remote range - The desert in Utah's range country is another great location to observe these animals in the wild.

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American Kentucky saddle horse - This horse breed is native to the rolling hills and verdant valleys of eastern Kentucky.

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American Kentucky saddle horse - It's a mid-sized horse known for a gentle temperament and willing disposition.

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Sea horses - The numbers of wild horses in North Carolina’s Outer Banks have dwindled over the years. They are best seen at the area's designated wildlife sanctuaries.

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Water manes - The Maryland horses which roam the Assateague Island National Seashore are a huge tourist draw.

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Moments with Mustangs - The Pryor Mountains in Montana and Wyoming are home to about 160 free-roaming horses. This is also the location of the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center.

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Palomino - Palomino horses have a yellow or gold coat, with a white or light cream mane and tail.

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Palomino - Though this may surprise you, its not a true American horse breed. Some palomino horses in the US are classified as a color breed however.

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Palomino -

The Native Americans of the Southwest however, tamed the horse and made it theirs. One of the most famous palomino horses was Trigger, the faithful mount of the Hollywood cowboy star Roy Rogers.

See also: Why have wildlife populations declined by 73%?

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