| breed of horse, known as the Azteca, is in demand in | | | | long flowing mane and a well set medium to low tail |
| Mexico. It is the first breed to be developed in Mexico | | | | are often seen. The coat is silky and only solid colors |
| and was designed from the beginning to suit all that is | | | | are permissible by the Mexican registry. |
| required of a Mexican horse. The majority of horses in | | | | It is important to note that two Azteca associations in |
| Mexico are descendants of Spanish horses, and the | | | | the United States allow Paints into their registries, but |
| since the Spanish horse has always been preferred in | | | | the Mexican registry does not. These U.S. associations |
| Mexico, the Andalusian was the foundation for the | | | | are not affiliated with Mexico's Azteca breed |
| new breed. | | | | association and have chosen to establish their own |
| Several horsemen living in Mexico in the late 1960's | | | | standards and breed development guidelines. |
| decided to re-create a horse that no longer existed. It | | | | Azteca Horse Registry of America (AHRA) has |
| was to be reminiscent of the horses originally brought | | | | registered over 450 American Azteca Horses since |
| to the New World by the Spanish Conquistadors; | | | | 1989. They feel that crossing the American Quarter |
| symbolic of Mexico; and, it was to have cow sense | | | | Horse and the American Paint Horse back into its |
| for working the cattle ranches of the charro (cowboy); | | | | original Spanish gene pool by breeding it to the |
| and it was to be an accomplished performer in typical | | | | American Andalusian/Iberian/PRE/PSL correctly |
| Mexican events such as fiestas, parades, and as a | | | | depicts the beginning of the Quarter Horse breed in |
| mount for the Rejonero in the bullfighting ring. | | | | early Southwest America. |
| After several years of experimentation and research, | | | | The American Azteca Horse International Association |
| a new breed of horse was created in Mexico in 1972 | | | | (AAHIA) was formed in 2000 for registering and |
| called the Azteca from Andalusians crossed with | | | | promoting American Azteca horses. The AAHIA |
| Quarter Horses and Criollo mares. | | | | takes into consideration the needs and marketing |
| The worldwide Registry for Azteca horses is | | | | demands of American tastes, rather than the Mexican |
| maintained by Asociacion Mexicana de Criadores de | | | | needs, or their market. The AAHIA feels that for the |
| Caballos de Raza Azteca (AMCCRA or The Azteca | | | | Azteca to be successful in the United States, the |
| Horse Association of Mexico). This is the only | | | | American people want a different type of horse than |
| organization approved by the developers of the breed | | | | the type that is desired in Mexico. The American |
| and by the Government of Mexico to register Azteca | | | | Azteca Horses will be modeled closely after the |
| horses and to legally use the name "Azteca". There | | | | original Mexican standards, but with a little more |
| are about 2000 Azteca horses currently living in North | | | | diversity to fit the American market. So, since a horse |
| and South America, and Spain which have been | | | | cannot legally be called an Azteca unless it is |
| approved by the International Azteca Horse | | | | inspected and approved by the Mexican association, |
| Association. The AMCCRA and the Government of | | | | they are calling their breed the American Azteca |
| Mexico are continuing these efforts to refine the | | | | Horse, so as not to imply that these horses are |
| Azteca and to define the main contributions of each of | | | | Mexican bred or registered. |
| the three founding breeds to the phenotype. It has | | | | The American Azteca is a combination of 2 registered |
| acquired so much recognition that it has earned the title | | | | breeds: Andalusian (all lines of Spanish, Lusitano, and |
| of the National Horse of Mexico. | | | | Spanish/Lusitano) and registered Quarter Horse or |
| The Mexican version is the original, but there is an | | | | Paint. They do not recognize any other breeds. As of |
| American type that deviates from the Mexican in | | | | January 1, 2004, all American Azteca Horses being |
| several ways, some of them subtle, some of them | | | | registered must have DNA analysis performed to |
| major. The main difference is that in the American | | | | confirm the parentage of both sides. |
| Azteca, both Quarter Horse and Paint horses that can | | | | If a horse is also registered with the International |
| prove no more then 1/4 TB can be used for breeding | | | | Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (ALHA), |
| the American Azteca. All American Quarter Horse | | | | the AAHIA will not accept the AQHA or APHA |
| Association (AQHA) and American Paint Horse | | | | pedigree that is on the horse's IALHA papers. |
| Association (APHA) markings and colors are | | | | However, they do accept the Andalusian side of the |
| acceptable. The Mexican variety does not allow Paint, | | | | pedigree. For the AQHA or APHA side of the |
| Appaloosa or albino. Additionally, the American Azteca | | | | pedigree, they need either a copy of the original |
| allows only Andalusian and Quarter Horse crosses, | | | | AQHA or APHA registration papers; or a copy of the |
| while the original Mexican variety allows Criollo. | | | | pedigree officially prepared by the AQHA or APHA |
| The American Azteca Horse responds well to the | | | | only. A minimum of 4 generations is also required. |
| different disciplines that require suspended and | | | | Additionally, you cannot register a horse with the |
| elevated gaits and to those that require a skillful | | | | AAHIA unless you are a full member of the AAHIA at |
| working cow horse or western horse. The horse | | | | the time of the registration. |
| inherits its beauty, temperament, spirit and agility from | | | | Because of the Quarter Horse background a genetic |
| their Andalusian genes. The Andalusian side also allows | | | | condition known as Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis |
| them to be incredibly athletic and smooth to ride with a | | | | (HYPP) is possible, therefore any horse found to have |
| naturally collected movement. The Azteca gets its | | | | the bloodlines of a horse called "Impressive #0767246" |
| strength and speed from the Quarter Horse side and | | | | in their heritage, must have their horse tested for |
| has an outstanding ability to learn; is extremely easy to | | | | HYPP. Only horses with the result of N/N will be |
| train; and once it learns something, it never forgets. | | | | accepted for registration. HYPP is inherited as a |
| The American Azteca ranges from 14.2 to 16.0 hands | | | | dominant trait and is characterized by intermittent |
| but the original Mexican Azteca should be 14.1 to 15.2 | | | | episodes of uncontrolled muscle tremors (shaking, |
| hands (mares) and 14.2 to 15.3 hands (stallions). This | | | | trembling or twitching) or profound muscle weakness, |
| height was established in consideration of the | | | | and in severe cases, may lead to collapse and/or |
| Aztec’s intended use in Charier. The head is | | | | death. |
| medium sized with a straight, slightly convex or slightly | | | | With all these things going for it, the Azteca breed, |
| concave profile with a broad forehead, expressive | | | | whether Mexican or American, has a valuable place in |
| eyes and medium-sized ears. The neck is well | | | | the equine world. |
| muscled and slightly arched with a medium crest. A | | | | |