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Introduction.

The word "criollo" means native. There are many Criollo breeds. The American Criollo, the Argentine Criollo, Uruguay and Chili also have their own Criollo breed. What all of these breeds or types have in common is where they originated from. They are all descendants of the horses the Spanish Conquistadors brought to the new world over 500 years ago.

They are the working horse of the common man. The cattle horse of the America's. Full of centuries of endurance, and millions of years living with wild Iberian bovine. They are the cattle horse of the Pampas, the influence for cow "savvy" in the Quarter horse. Although rare in North America when they are seen, it is in Reining and cutting classes, The Criollo always makes a great impression as the way he moves is unlike what is commonly seen in North American breeds.

Foundation.

When the Spanish came to the new world they brought with them types, rather than breeds. The horses of the Andalusian and Lusitania provinces, The Jennet, (which still holds some controversy today)and the Gallicino pony. Many of these were crossed with Barb blood due to the 800 year Moorish invasion of Spain.
These horses either escaped or were turned loose to be recaptured at a later date. They conformed to their environment and developed into a type, or breed of their own. They became sturdy, needing little to survive. They never lost their ability to work cattle and the agility to survive the battle with bovine.

Type.

The Criollo standards vary from region to region. With Argentine Criollo's being allowed to stand from 13.2-15.1 The American Criollo has a tighter range of 14. hands -15 hands. With 14.2 to 15 hands preferred. Some of the Criollo breeds appear very stocky, due to Dutch and Throughbred influence. Others appear less so, due to the lack of out side influence, such as the Chilean and American Criollo.
Hooves are strong and convex. Rarely do the Criollo need shoes. Head is straight to sub-convex. Pasterns are clean, back short, chest deep with lighter hind quarters. The gaskin muscle is missing. Although round in appearance they are not overly muscled.

Colors.

Criollo come in a rainbow of colors with none being thought of as poor. The American Criollo tends to be solid to dun, with Zebra dun, Red dun, and Bay being the most common. Black, Grulla, and bay with dun factors also appear. Gray is disallowed in the American Criollo.