A New National Art Competition
to Commemorate the Appaloosa Horse Club's 75th Anniversary

March 1, 2013 - May 1, 2013

In recognition of the Appaloosa Horse Club's 75th Anniversary, and the unique but natural, painterly beauty of the Appaloosa Horse breed, The Trail of Painted Ponies and the ApHC have joined together to sponsor a national art competition. The call for design submissions begins on March 1, 2013 and closes on May 1, 2013. Cash prizes and merchandise will be awarded to the winners, to be chosen by the ApHC, The Trail of Painted Ponies and people around the country through an online voting opportunity.

The Appaloosa horse is recognized for its colorful coat patterns - from a dark coat with a white speckled blanket over the hips, to a white coat with leopard spotting. Artistic fascination with its "leopard complex" can be traced back 20,000 years, to prehistoric cave paintings. Prized by European nobility and royalty in the Middle Ages, horses with Appaloosa spotting patterns were brought to America in the 16th Century by Spanish conquistadors and settlers. The Nez Perce Indians of the Pacific Northwest developed a special fondness for them and bred them to be strong, fast, sure-footed and intelligent mounts. Appaloosas fell into decline after the Nez Perce War in 1877, to be preserved as a distinct breed by a small number of breeders who founded the Appaloosa Horse Club breed registry in 1938.

Today the Appaloosa is one of the most popular breeds in the United States. It is the official state horse of Idaho, and has been a creative source of inspiration for many artists, including a number of Trail of Painted Ponies artists. We are proud to be a continuing part of the long distinguished legacy of the Appaloosa Horse with this national art competition.

Inspirational Slideshow Showcasing the Amazing Beauty of the Appaloosa Horse
and Previous Trail of Painted Ponies Appaloosa Figurines!