THE GALICEÑO HISTORY

Small but Mighty With a Proud History

The Galiceño Horse Breeders Association (GHBA) was first organized in 1959 to collect, record, and preserve the pedigrees of Galiceño horses.  The aim of the association is/was to help publicize and maintain this critically endangered breed.  

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It is believed by many experts that the first Galiceño horses came from Galicia, a province in northwestern Spain, and that the breed was in existence even before Columbus discovered the  "New World."  It is also said that ancient Galiceños were among the first 16 horses that landed on the mainland of America when the famed Spanish Conquistador and explorer, Hernando Cortes, invaded Mexico from Cuba in 1519. 

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These small herds of island bred Spanish horses became the ancestors of the thousands of Mustangs that thrived on the plains of the great Southwest and of the modern Galiceño. For some reason, the small but spirited Galiceño never migrated north and remained for centuries in the coastal regions of Mexico prized by the natives for his riding ease, intelligence, courage, endurance, and functional size.  

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For centuries, the Galiceño became a forgotten breed except for certain parts of Mexico.  A few and rare were found in the United States. In 1958, the Galiceño was officially introduced into the U.S.  At that time, two men from Texas were searching for a new breed to satisfy the increasing demand for a small pleasure riding horses that would also double as a good working and contest horse. When they saw the Galiceño they knew they were perfect for the job and immediately began to import them into the country to breed, train, and sell them.  

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Enjoy some of our wonderful archived images and articles of the Galiceño below!