The Arabian is one of the oldest purebred horses. Although said to have originated in Western Asia, they have strong ties to Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. In effort to keep the Arabian blood lines pure the Arab Horse Societies and the World Arab Horse Organization has very strict pedigree standards. The Arabian is truly one of the most beautiful horses to look at, in terms of symmetry and are famous for their light and balanced ride. They have an unusual skeleton (having one fewer vertebrae than other horses) accounts for their compact back and high tail carriage. In appearance the Arabian glides over the ground at a running pace. Legend has it that the value of the Arabian bloodline is what first inspired Artificial Insemination. At night the Arabs would often steal semen from a highly prized stallion owned by an enemy tribe and inseminate their mares. Today Arabians are mostly found in America. There are two types of Arabian horses; Egyptian-style, slender framed with a predominantly "dished" face and the Polish type, a much stockier horse.