Criollo horses come from South America, Argentina.

"Criollo" means "of Spanish descent"
The breed can also be found in Peru, Chile, Brazil and Venezuela.

In Venezuela it is called the Llnarero, in Brazil it is called the Crioulo, in Chile, the Caballo chileno, in Peru there are three types: the Chola, Morochuco and the Costerno.

They are descendants from the early Spanish horses, the Andalucian that were introduced to Argentina in the 16th century.

The breed is native to the Pampas grasslands of Argentina.

The average height is 14 – 15hh (1.42 – 1.52m).

The breed is strong and hardy and has great stamina, capable of carrying the heaviest weight over long distances on rough terrain, whilst able to survive on little food and limited water.

The breed society was formed in 1918 and meanstesting was by endurance tests to help evaluate horses for breeding.

The test includes a 470 mile "march" to be covered in 15 days with a pack weighing 2421b, without any extra feed and may only eat the grass at the side of the road.

The most famous of the breed's endurance was the ride made by Professor Aimé Félix Tschiffely in 1925-28.

He took two criollo horses, 15-year-old Mancha and 16-year-old Gato, on a 10,000 mile (16,090 km) trek from Buenos Aires to Washington D.C., crossing snow-capped mountains, the world's driest desert, the thickest tropical jungles, riding in all types of weather.

The journey took 2 1/2 years and it was claimed that neither horse had a day's illness.

Gato lived to be 36 and Mancha 40.

They lived the last years of their lives as celebrities in La estancia El Cardal (El Cardal Ranch), the breeding establishment of the man most credited for developing the crioulo breed, Dr. Emilio Solanet.

The coat colour is dun, roan, bay, black, chestnut and grey.

Today, the breed is used mainly as a working-cow horse, but it is also considered a pleasure and trail horse which contributed a great deal to the Argentine polo pony.

They also make excellent rodeo and endurance horses.

The breed, known for its hardiness and stamina, is most popular in its home countries.

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