Developed by the Nez Perce Indians, they were their top choice of horse. The Appaloosa was depicted in early cave drawings in France over 20,000 years ago.
White settlers referred to them as "palouse horses". These horses played a major roll in the Indian wars and the development of the early livestock industry. There are 6 possible configurations of their spotted coat. Snowflake, leopard, fronts, marble, spotted blanket and white blanket.