The Criollo
is a descendent of Spanish horses brought to Uruguay
and Argentina by Spanish Settlers. They were traditionally
used by the Argentinean gauchos for farm work, as draft
horses, or for pleasure riding. Because the were free-roaming
horses for centuries, they developed into a strong,
versatile breed capable of great feats of endurance.
The Criollo is a powerful animal that can live in almost
any conditions. It is a sturdy, muscular horse. They
can appear in a large variety of colors, but horses
of Tabiano coloring are excluded from registering. The
gateado (cat-colored) coloring is preferred. Many Criollos
have dorsal stripes and/or zebra stripes on the legs.
It has a short neck and its tail is carried close to
the buttocks. The mane and tail are profused.
