White horse breeds like the Lipizzon, Camarillo, and Percheron are generally considered special. There’s something mystical about the pure white (or cream) coloring when compared to a brown or black horse, or any number of grey horse breeds. But because they’re special, they can also cost a bit more on average.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- White horse breeds like the Camarillo White Horse, Percheron, and Lipizzon are the most popular and beautiful, and other popular white breeds like the American Cream Draft and Boulonnais don’t disappoint either.
- White horse prices range from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on breed. Price depends on skills and rarity.
- The Camarillo White Horse and Lipizzan will typically fetch higher prices due to rarity and esteemed lineage and bloodline status, while the Percheron is typically more moderately priced and widely available (store page).
White Horse Breeds – Overview
Not all white horses or from a breed of only-white horses. In fact, many of these breeds can produce non-white horses, because they are beautiful horse breeds in general, not just when they produce horses. That said, these are the most popular white-horse breeds, and a short note about their origin and background:
- Camarillo White Horse – A rare and beautiful horse breed known for its pure white color, originating from a stallion named Sultan purchased in 1921 by Adolfo Camarillo, representing a critical piece of equine ancestry. Perfect for those seeking a true white horse with remarkable genetics. (Source)Check out our full Camarillo White Horse Breed Profile.
- Percheron – A draft horse breed from the Huisne river valley in western France, known for its intelligence and willingness to work. Percherons are big and impressive, often considered a top pick among draft horse breeds due to their outstanding lineage. (Source)
- Lipizzan – Also known as Lipizzaner, this European breed is a purebred, sought-after for its excellent and gorgeous coloration. Lipizzans are also known for their longevity. (Source)
- American Cream Draft – This white horse breed is usually known for its unique “gold champagne” coat. Fantastic for both work and show, they are a gorgeous addition to American quarter horse lineage. They were developed from a mare named Old Granny. (Source)
- Boulonnais Horse – Also known as the “White Marble Horse”, this elegant draft horse breed is usually gray. (Source)
- Camargue Horse – An ancient breed indigenous to the Camargue area in southern France, considered one of the oldest horse breeds in the world. (Source)
- Orlov Trotter – A Russian breed noted for its fast trot and outstanding speed and stamina. (Source)
- American Paint Horse – A breed that combines the characteristics of a western stock horse with a pinto spotting pattern. (Source)
- Andalusian Horse – A breed of light horses from Spain and Portugal, known for its beauty, agility, and elegance. (Source)
- Shagya Arabian – Developed in the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the 19th century, this breed is known for its versatility. (Source)
- Mustang – A free-roaming horse of the Western United States, descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. (Source)
- Blazer Horse – Indigenous to the northwestern United States and primarily developed for ranch work. (Source)
White Horse Prices by Breed
Buying and caring for horses can be daunting. White horses are among the most popular color due to their elegant and beautiful form.
Here is an overall cost a few details on the breed’s common use for these common white horse breeds.
| Horse | Common Use | Cost |
| Lippizan | General riding | $8,000-$10,000 |
| Camargue | Equestrian games and for show | $7,000-$14,000 |
| American Cream Draft | Farm Work | $7,500-$8,000 |
| Camarillo White Horse | General riding | $500-$150,000 |
| Shagya Arabian | Competition riding | $6,000-$12,000 |
| Boulonnais | Farm Work | $6,000-$12,114 |
| Percheron | Farm Work | $1,000-$10,000 |
| Orlov Trotter | Racing | $18,000-$20,000 |
| Quarter Horse | Racing | $2,500-$10,000 |
| Mustang | General riding | $25-$5,000 |
| Andalusian | General riding | $9,000-$50,000 |
| Blazer horse | Farm Work | $6,000-$11,000 |
| Paint horse | Transportation | $1,000-$5,000 |
What Makes A White Horse White?
Not all horses are pure white. Check out the video above, in which Equestrian Gracie Tyte (Pony Nuts on YouTube) rides a horse with predominantly white markings. We would still consider this a white horse, though maybe not “true” or “dominant” white.
A true white horse is born predominantly white and remains white throughout its life. These horses have mostly pink, unpigmented skin under their hair coat and may have brown, blue, or hazel eyes.
The “true white” horses, especially those carrying dominant white (W) genes, are rare. Most horses commonly referred to as “white” are actually “gray” horses, whose hair coats become completely white over time.
The key difference between a true white horse and a gray horse is skin pigmentation; true white horses have unpigmented skin and hair from birth, whereas gray horses retain skin pigmentation and only their hair becomes white. The “white” color can be overall (dominant white) or it can present as white markings, or white patterns, depending on the depigmentation phenotypes. (Source)
White horse breeds
1. Lipizzan
The Lipizzan horse, known for its name from the prestigious Lipizzan stud in Slovenia while commonly known as a white-bred horse is a bright grey that may lighten over age.
Meaning when born grey they may not achieve a bright white coat until 6-10 years into adulthood.
This is due to selective breeding as grey was the preferred color from the original Habsburg family, during the 18th century.
Originating from Lipica, Slovenia, these horses are known for their general riding for children and adults of all ages and being amazing for carriage riding in both show and talent.
Their height can be anywhere from 60-64 inches high and they may weigh from 1,000 to 3,000 pounds depending on activity and nutrition.
Known for their small stature and long back, these thick-necked horses are beautiful and great for riding.
In terms of costs, a foal would cost around $5,000. With age, they can grow more expensive upwards of about $8,000 to $10,000.
2. Camargue
The Camargue horse(Cavallo de Delta) originated from the marshlands of Southern France.
These horses, known for their intelligence, agility, and temperament are great in use for long-distance riding and in equestrian games.
Becoming popular in France these horses have gained recognition around the world, known as one of the oldest breeds of horses.
Defined by their large head and flat foreheads, these strong and resilient animals are mainly white with white manes and tails but can often be mistaken for a lightish grey or darker white.
They are most commonly bought in the UK where they are often found and bred but may also be found online.
They can cost around $7,000 – $14,000 depending on gender and seller.
3. American Cream Draft
The American Cream Draft, originated from the United States in the 1900s.
These horses are good for breeding and popular for riding and show
These horses are a rare breed and may have a higher price tag than most.
Commonly shown with a height of 60-68 inches they can weigh anywhere from 1800-2000 pounds, again depending on nutrition and care.
One can commonly find this horse by seeing its characteristics of a cream-colored fur coat, light pink skin, white manes, and tales with occasional markings of light grey or bright white.
This breed, although formerly popular, has lessened since the great depression.
The mechanization of farm style during the mid 20th century has led to a drastic decrease in the breed’s population.
Therefore the cost can range anywhere from $7,500-$8,500.
4. Camarillo White horse
The Camarillo white horse, originated from Sacramento, California dating back to 1912.
A farmer purchased a 9-year-old stallion named Sulton at a fair in California and this led to breeding and becoming a new breed.
Known for their bright white fur, these horses have a high variety of abilities including riding as well as use for parties, endurance riding, and parades.
Having a refined and compact build these horses are very expressive with large eyes and laid-back shoulders.
On average, these stallions can weigh anywhere between 1,000-1,250 pounds and have a height of 56-68 inches high!
This rare horse breed is less than 100 years old and may have a higher price tag than others, ranging anywhere from $500 dollars to $150,000.
This, of course, depends on training, family history, and gender, which are all common factors to many horse enthusiasts when deciding which to buy.
5. Shagya Arabian
The Shagya Arabian horse, originated in Hungary.
They are a unique breed that comes from the 19th century holding up to high standards of friendliness, high alertness, and intelligence.
Known for their strong, dense bones and endurance these horses are well in demand for a variety of activities including breeding, riding, competition, and show
They are born with extreme stamina.
Although versatile in their strengths and activity level these horses can weigh around 800-1,000 pounds making them easy to move around as opposed to other breeds.
They may have a height of around 4.8 to 5.1 feet tall making them a good height for beginners looking to get into the competitive riding field or even just as a pet.
These horses are unmistakable as they are found across the world from the United States to Australia to the UK, and defined by their high stance and large-boned bodies.
They are commonly bred as white but may range in color depending on the breeder, these horses can cost from around $3,000 to $12,0000 depending on gender, training, and seller.
6. Boulonnais horse
The Boulonnais horse, a rare French horse, is famous for its marble white fur coat, where it often gets its name “White Marble Horse.”
These horses are commonly used for breeding with others in an attempt to create a bigger and stronger overall breed.
Due to their high adaptability, sprung ribs, high broad chest, and straight back these horses are ideal for breeders seeking to create bigger and stronger offspring.
Commonly these horses may be found to have bright white colors and occasionally some grey spots.
When thinking in terms of weight these horses can range anywhere from 1,400-1,650 pounds depending on nutrition and activity level.
Overall the height may be from about 56 to 67 inches.
Boulonnais horses are popular across the world and are commonly found around the United States and the United Kingdom.
When looking to purchase, this can be done online more efficiently but some horse sellers vary by state.
The average cost is around $6,000 to $12,114 dollars.
7. Percheron
The Percheron horse is known for its willingness to work and high intelligence.
These horses are popular across the world, originating from the Hudson River valley in Western France and taking part as the former Peche Province.
This breed is close to royalty.
Taking its name from Depeche Provence, Percheron means powerful.
Commonly black or grey these horses may also be considered bright to dull-white.
These breeds are quite social and clumsy, they enjoy a challenge and hard work and are beautiful with their high backbone and strong legs.
They may also be used (more in younger years) for sleigh rides, parades, or carriage rides.
Weighing at about 1,900 to 2,100 pounds they can have a height of 64 to 68 inches.
They are good for the show and great for pulling.
Due to their high activity levels and varying talents, they’re found throughout the United States.
They cost from $1,000 to $10,000 dollars depending on the level of training, the ability for work ethic, gender, and age.
8. Orlov Trotter
The Orlov trotter, this horse originates from Russia and is one of the most popular horses of the 18th century due to its beauty
It was bred by Count Alexei Orlov hence its name.
Well-known in Russia, these horses are used mainly for being crossed with Arabian Stallions as well as other European breeds.
They are well known and respected for their high speed and agility while looking stunning in the process.
They are exclusively used for harness racing and general riding by Russian nobility are now commonly used for riding and shows.
Because they are bred mainly in Russia, they can scarcely be found in parts of the United States.
They weigh about 900-9,000 pounds and having a height of 60-68 inches.
Being the most famous Russian horse comes with a price tag, when looking to buy the Orlov Trotter horse the price can be around $18,500-$20,000.
9. Quarter Horse
Originating from the United States, the Quarter horse is one of the oldest recognized horses across the United States.
Originating in the 1660s, this horse is a cross between the Spanish horses and the early imported English horses.
These horses grew wildly popular as a show horse and a racehorse.
Known for anything from ranch horses to barrel racing.
This breed today is known for its versatile range in activities and a wide variety of color, most commonly a bright white.
Today there are around four million quarter horses worldwide mainly living in Ohio due to their high variety of horse racing and showcases.
These horses can easily be defined by their short stocky build with a deep broad chest.
This type of horse will commonly cost around $2,500 to $10,000 dollars.
However, the more elite horses, known for their high build and fast speed in racing can cost anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000 dollars.
Of course, this all depends on gender, bloodlines, and training.
10. Mustang
Originating in The western United States, these horses are commonly found free-roaming in states including, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and more!
These horses were brought over from Spain to the Americas due to their domesticated practices.
However, these horses are actually commonly known as wild or even feral when free roaming but can be trained as pets.
Mustang horses are commonly used for riding among adults and kids as well as having the ability to be trained for racing and the show ring.
Mustangs weigh anywhere from a light 700 -1,500 lbs and have an average height of 4.4 to 5.0 feet tall.
Although coming in a wide variety of colors, mustangs are commonly a bright white color.
They are defined by their wild personality due to their heritage and their broad bone structure.
When buying a Mustang it can cost anywhere from $25 to well over $5000 depending on the age, color, gender, and training.
11. Andalusian
Originating in Spain during and descending from the Iberian horses in both Spain and Portugal, this horse gets its name from the cave paintings seen in the Spanish regions.
These are known to date back all the way to 20,000 to 30,000 BCE.
These horses can be seen and described by their thick manes and long tails.
Found mostly in light white to bright gray color these horses are used commonly for classical dressage, riding and are good for historical pictures.
Due to their stocky build, they often have cartoon characters based on them.
They weigh about 900-1,200 pounds depending on activity level and diet.
These horses may have a height of 55-61.6 inches tall!
These horses are hard to come by nowadays especially in the United States as they are found mainly in the Iberian peninsula but have several offspring across the world.
These horses may cost anywhere from $9,000 to over $50,000 dollars, depending on age and gender.
12. Blazer horse
The Blazer horse, originated in northwestern America around the 1950s.
This breed is traced back to one horse of a similar breed, named Little Blaze.
He was a famous stallion whose great build and activity level influenced the domestication of his offspring for years.
Blazer horses are commonly a bright white and can easily be defined by their tall nature and thick long tails.
With proper nutrition and high activity levels, these horses may range 800-1,000 pounds with a height of 13-15 hands tall.
These horses may be found throughout the United States and are commonly bought in Idaho.
Used mainly for their roles in cropping, cutting grass, and jumping.
When obtaining a blazer horse it is important to know the cost. This horse may cost around $6,000 to $11,000 dollars.
13. Paint horse
The paint horse, originated in North America and is an offspring of two-toned horses introduced by the Spanish.
These have been around since the 1500’s and due to their bright colors are good for showing but are also commonly used for jumping, riding and equestrian games.
Paint horses may weigh anywhere from 950-1,200 pounds and can have a height of 28-43 inches.
Defined by their high intelligence, and agility they are good for work and transportation.
Paint horses may be found throughout North America and are also sometimes found in Asia and parts of Europe.
On average the horses are $1,000-$5,000. Again this depends on gender, age, bloodline, and activity level and ability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why are white horses special?
White horses have been significant in various cultures for centuries due to their symbolic meanings. They are known to symbolize purity, heroism, enlightenment, and triumph of good over evil. In Christian symbolism, white horses are seen as holy animals. The white coat of a horse is often interpreted as a symbol of purity, innocence, and heroism. Heroes in many stories and mythologies are depicted riding white horses, and they are also associated with enlightenment and spirituality in different cultures. (Source)
Resources/Related Reading
- A Look at Some of the Most Common Red Horse Breeds
- Friesian Horse Colors – Black, Chestnut and White
- https://horseyhooves.com/white-horse-breeds/
- http://www.oqha.com/what-is-a-quarter-horse
- https://www.livescience.com/27686-mustangs.html
- https://animalhow.com/white-horses-breeds/
- https://www.livescience.com/27686-mustangs.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andalusian_horse
- http://www.equiworld.net/breeds/blazer/index.htm
- https://www.equinenow.com/blazerhorse.htm
- https://www.thesprucepets.com/meet-the-paint-horse-1886129
