About the American Azteca

 

The Azteca horse is known as the National Horse of Mexico.  The breed originated in Mexico in the 1970s, specifically in 1972. It was developed by Don Antonio Ariza, President of the Casa Pedro Domecq.  Together with the help of many other individuals, they worked with tenacity and patience to realize the dream that Mexico would have its own national breed.  

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Don Antonio imported Spanish Andalusian horses and began to breed them at Rancho San Antonio near Texcoco in the state of Mexico. Selection for the Azteca breed began by the crossing of these Spanish Andalusian stallions with Quarter Horse mares or alternatively the crossing of Andalusians with mares of mixed Criollo blood. The Azteca may have a minimum of 3/8 to a maximum of 5/8 Andalusian or Quarter Horse blood, while the percentage of Criollo may not exceed 1/4. The breed aims at blending the qualities of the Andalusian and Quarter Horse. The result is an elegant animal, ideal for performance or pleasure riding.

 

Mexican cowboys, known as charros, who aimed to create a versatile and athletic horse breed for various purposes, including ranch work and competitive events. The breed was created by crossing Andalusian and Quarter Horse breeds with Mexican Criollo horses. This breeding program sought to combine the agility and speed of the Quarter Horse with the style and movement of the Andalusian and Lusitano breeds.

 

In 1982, the Mexican Department of Agriculture officially recognized the Azteca breed, and in 1992, the Association Mexicana de Criadores de Caballos de Raza Azteca was established to manage the breed’s registry. The Azteca has its own registry in the USA, and can also be registered with IALHA as a partbred Iberian, either crossed with the Andalusian or Lusitano.   ​

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The American Azteca is based in the U.S., allows Paint and Quarter Horse breeds, and prohibits any horses with more than 25 percent Thoroughbred genetics. Visit their link below.  The Mexican-based association allows only solid colors and inspects the horses throughout their maturity before entering them in the books as breeding stock.

 

 

Visit the American Azteca website  |  View the Brochure