Lewis and Clark wrote in the diaries about tens of thousands of Appaloosas on the prairies of the Columbia River, Snake and Clearwater Rivers. They explored these regions in the early 1800s and were amazed at the extent of the breeding by the Nez Perce Indian Tribes.
They wrote of the intelligence displayed by these tribes and that they were gelding and breeding such quality steeds.
The Nez Perce tribes actually saved Lewis and Clark’s exploration group from starving to death and nursed them back to health.
It has been assumed for years that the Spanish brought this breed to North America. It would be difficult … if not impossible … to breed tens of thousands of these horses considering the time that the Spanish brought their horses into North America.