Editing Horse (section)

===Breeds===
{{Main|Horse breed||List of horse breeds|Horse breeding}}

[[File:Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary b35 043-0.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Illustration of assorted breeds; slim, light hotbloods, medium-sized warmbloods and draft and pony-type coldblood breeds|alt=a sepia-toned engraving from an old book, showing 11 horses of different breeds and sizes in nine different illustrations]]
The concept of [[purebred]] bloodstock and a controlled, written [[breed registry]] has come to be particularly significant and important in modern times. Sometimes purebred horses are incorrectly or inaccurately called "thoroughbreds". [[Thoroughbred]] is a specific breed of horse, while a "purebred" is a horse (or any other animal) with a defined [[Pedigree chart|pedigree]] recognized by a breed registry.<ref name=Ensminger424>[[#Ensminger|Ensminger]], p. 424</ref> Horse breeds are groups of horses with distinctive characteristics that are transmitted consistently to their offspring, such as [[equine conformation|conformation]], color, performance ability, or disposition. These inherited traits result from a combination of natural crosses and [[artificial selection]] methods. Horses have been [[Selective breeding|selectively bred]] since their [[domestication of the horse|domestication]]. An early example of people who practiced selective [[horse breeding]] were the [[Bedouin]], who had a reputation for careful practices, keeping extensive pedigrees of their [[Arabian horse]]s and placing great value upon pure bloodlines.<ref>{{cite book |author=Edwards, Gladys Brown |title=The Arabian: War Horse to Show Horse |publisher=Rich Publishing |year=1973 |edition=Revised Collectors |pages=22–23}}</ref> These pedigrees were originally transmitted via an [[oral tradition]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waho.org/History.html |title=Is Purity the Issue? |access-date=2008-04-29 |website=WAHO Publication Number 21 January 1998 |publisher=World Arabian Horse Organization |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705105054/http://www.waho.org/Purityissue.html |archive-date=5 July 2008 }}</ref>

Breeds developed due to a need for "form to function", the necessity to develop certain characteristics in order to perform a particular type of work.<ref name=Sponenberg155>[[#Sponenberg|Sponenberg]], p. 155</ref> Thus, a powerful but refined breed such as the Andalusian developed as riding horses with an aptitude for [[dressage]].<ref name=Sponenberg155/> Heavy draft horses were developed out of a need to perform demanding [[farm]] work and pull heavy wagons.<ref>[[#Sponenberg|Sponenberg]], pp. 156–157</ref> Other horse breeds had been developed specifically for light agricultural work, carriage and road work, various sport disciplines, or simply as pets.<ref name=Spon162>[[#Sponenberg|Sponenberg]], p. 162</ref> Some breeds developed through centuries of crossing other breeds, while others descended from a single [[foundation stock|foundation sire]], or other limited or restricted foundation bloodstock. One of the earliest formal registries was [[General Stud Book]] for Thoroughbreds, which began in 1791 and traced back to the [[foundation bloodstock]] for the breed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishhorseracing.com/goracing/racing/racehorses/history.asp |title=History of Thoroughbreds |access-date=2008-04-03 |website=Britishhorseracing.com |publisher=British Horseracing Authority |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201154621/http://www.britishhorseracing.com/goracing/racing/racehorses/history.asp |archive-date=2014-02-01 }}</ref> There are more than 300&nbsp;horse breeds in the world today.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Hedge, Juliet |author2=Don M. Wagoner |title= Horse Conformation: Structure, Soundness and Performance |publisher= Globe Pequot |location=Guilford, CT |year= 2004|isbn= 1-59228-487-6 |oclc= 56012597|pages=307–308}}</ref>