Dakota is a 13 year old Appaloosa mare. She was renamed Dakota because it means "calming friend" in Native American.
Dakota was Bred in Washington state by SMAppaloosas in 2008 (https://www.smappaloosas.com) and relocated to Florida in 2021. She will become part of my equine facilitated psychotherapy program
Appaloosas are believed to have originated in Spain as the "spotted horse" and then traded into the Pacific Northwest where there were bred by the Nez Perce. The Nez Percé built up one of the largest horse herds on the continent. They were almost unique among Native Americans in conducting a selective breeding program, and they were instrumental in creating the Appaloosa breed.