There are many different types of colors and breeds of horses in the world but, one of the most desirable colors is the all-black horse.
Black horses have been popularized in movies, books, and paintings. Everything from the Black Stallion to Black Beauty. But, which breeds have all black horses?
Let’s take a look at some of the most common breeds in American where you can find an all-black horse.
Table of Contents
1. Friesian Horse
The Fabulous Friesian! Have you had a chance to check out my article with 15 Fabulous Friesian Facts? This black beauty is definitely a head-turner. You’ll be sure to turn heads everywhere you go if you own a Friesian.
The Friesian is the most unique member in this list of black horse breeds because the whole breed is black. Almost every member is black and white markings are highly discouraged.
If you want an all-black horse with lots of leg feathers and a beautifully thick mane and tail, the Friesian is probably the best match for you!
2. American Quarter Horse
A truly American breed, all black quarter horses are pretty easy to find. In fact, a registered quarter horse, Docs Keepin Time, played the lead role of Black Beauty in the 1994 movie.
Quarter horses are known for their easily trainable disposition. While they were named after their ability to run a super-fast quarter-mile, they excel at almost every discipline imaginable. If you are looking for a black horse that is also extremely versatile, the American Quarter Horse may be the breed for you!
3. Mustang Horse
Ah, the American legend. The mustang horse is a symbol of the American West. Made popular first by Wild Horse Annie and then by movies like Spirit, the mustang is an extremely versatile breed that can be found in almost every color (check out our mustang color guide).
Thankfully, black is also one of those colors. It’s fairly common too. Their strong hooves make them excellent trail animals and with the right training, they can excel in any discipline.
For detailed information about the mustang horse and registry and competition organizations, check out our mustang horse breed profile.
4. Andalusian
The famed black Andalusian horse is definitely a sight to behold. They typically have long, flowing manes and tails as well as a distinctly Spanish appearance.
Andalusian horses come in black, bay and gray and are commonly used for performance and exhibition. This breed is also a favorite for use in the movies, especially those set during medieval times.
5. Lusitano
The Lusitano horse is another Spanish breed where you can find all-black horses. In fact, the Lusitano and the Andalusian are very closely related. You can learn more about the Lusitano horse in my article: The Lusitano Horse: History, Colors and Crosses.
6. Percheron Horse
The Percheron horse is a big, beautiful gentle giant. They are usually black or gray and very well muscled and intelligent. They can be very tall and are sometimes used to cross with lighter horse breeds to create draft crosses that excel in the showjumping and dressage arenas.
Percheron may be built to pull heavy loads but they can make excellent riding horses as well. Lighter bodied representatives of the breed can even compete in sports like jumping, eventing, and dressage. (source)
You can learn more about this beautiful breed in my post: Percheron Horse Breed Profile – Height, History, Colors, and Temperament.
7. Morgan Horse
Have you ever heard the term “Justin Morgan had a horse.”? The Morgan horse is an early American horse breed whose members can trace their lineage back to Justin Morgan’s famed stallion “Figure”.
The Morgan horse is beautiful and extremely versatile. They can compete in any discipline and come in a wide variety of colors including black. An all-black Morgan horse like the one below is definitely a sight to behold!
8. Tennessee Walking Horse
If you are looking for your very own Black Beauty but want to make sure you have a smooth ride, the Tennessee Walker might be the right horse for you. They are a friendly, long-lived and sure-footed breed.
If you want to learn more about this beautiful breed, check out our article with 11 Terrific Facts About the Tennessee Walker Horse.
9. American Saddlebred
Yet another wonderful gaited horse breed that happens to come in all black. The American Saddlebred is an energetic and intelligent breed. They can do just about everything including driving, jumping, dressage and even cutting.
One of the great things about American Saddlebred horses is that they come in a wide variety of colors. This includes all black like the mare, Gypsy Queen, pictured below.
10. Thoroughbred Horse
The thoroughbred horse is like equine royalty. It is a breed of horse that routinely commands incredibly high purchase prices. This is largely related to their success in the sport of horse racing.
Thoroughbred horses come in many colors. While chestnut, bay and brown tend to be more popular, all-black thoroughbreds are possible! To learn more about thoroughbreds, check out the thoroughbred breed profile post!
11. Arabian
Walter Farley made the idea of owning a “Black Arabian Stallion” popular in the 1940’s when he released his book by the same title. Since then, children everywhere who have read his book dream of one day owning this majestic creature.
I mean, what is not to love with a story about a boy and a wild stallion who, stranded on a deserted island, form an unbreakable bond and then go on to be champions.
The Arabian horse truly is the type of horse with whom you can form an amazing bond. They can be high energy and even a little spooky but they will try their hardest to make their owners happy.
The Arabian horse excels in events like endurance racing but can compete in everything from western to English and even dressage. All black Arabians are still uncommon but there are breeders who specialize in breeding horses with this popular color.
12. Irish Draught
The Irish Draught is a draft horse breed commonly used to cross with other breeds to produce excellent jumping horses. They come in many colors but black and gray are very common.
While Irish sport horses are very common, purebred Irish Draught horses are fairly rare. So much so that they are “watch” status on the American Livestock Breed Conservancy’s Rare Breed Conservation Priority List. (source)
13. Peruvian Paso
The Peruvian Paso is a very animated horse breed. They are gaited and very smooth to ride. They are known to be gentle and fairly easy to train. The breed has a wide variety of colors available, including all black like this horse below.
Related Questions
What is an all-black horse called? There is no special name in the horse world for an all-black horse. Typically the color is used followed by the breed and gender i.e. “black thoroughbred mare” or “black Arabian stallion”.
What color is a black horse born? Foals who will turn black are usually born black but the shade can vary from a pitch-black to a dark, mousey gray. Here are a couple examples of black foals:
