American Horses: Three of Many

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A guide to three breeds of American horses. Get details on the American Cream, Morgan, and Newfoundland Pony.

By Dana Benner — History tells us that the common ancestor of all horses originated here in the Americas, but the horses we know today were brought here by Europeans, starting with the Spanish. From those horses, some were born uniquely American. This piece will look at three of them: American Cream, Morgan, and Newfoundland pony. The word “horse” is used broadly, as the Newfoundland pony is clearly not a horse.

All three of these equines are considered heritage draft breeds, and they’re all breeds of concern. This means the bloodlines of these animals are in danger of being lost due to crossbreeding. Of the three, the Newfoundland pony has the distinction of being classified as a landrace breed as well. A landrace breed is one that has evolved in response to its environment.

American Cream

To learn about the American Cream, I headed north to Portland, Maine, to MerEquus Equine Rescue, where I spoke to Kerri Beckett. Kerri has devoted her life to these horses. At the time of my visit,
the sanctuary had eight American Creams under their care. The American Cream was developed in Iowa and is the only true draft horse developed in the United States that’s still in existence.

The American Cream was once considered a color phase of other draft horses, but based on its genetics, it’s been determined to be a distinct breed found only in the United States in its pure state. Among draft horses, the American Cream is considered medium- sized, weighing between 1,800 to 2,000 pounds, and standing 15 to 16.3 hands high.

After interacting with the horses and speaking to Kerri, I found that American Creams are extremely docile and calm. Kerri told me, “They’re very adaptable and love to work and stay active.” All these traits make them perfect for small farms and the numerous chores found there.

According to information from The Livestock Conservancy, the American Cream population is considered to be at the “critical” level — the most serious of the organization’s levels.

Morgan

The Morgan is one of the most versatile breeds: strong enough to work the fields and pull logs, yet quick and nimble enough to ride. These traits made the Morgan a top choice for cavalry mounts during the American Civil War. They also made the Morgan the foundation for other breeds, such as the Quarter Horse, American Walker, and American Saddlebred — which was the Morgan’s undoing.

After the war, the Morgan was bred with larger draft horses, as well as with Thoroughbreds, to enhance both working and riding horses. Slowly, the true Morgan breed was disappearing. The terms “true” and “pure” are hard to use with the Morgan, as historically, there was only one Morgan. All Morgan horses are descendants of one stallion, “Figure,” which was born in Vermont and owned by Justin Morgan. This means the Morgan breed comes from that one stallion being bred to other horses, thus, raising an ongoing controversy over the older, foundation-type animals and others bred for showing.

The original Morgan breed was developed as a medium-sized workhorse, weighing between 800 and 1,000 pounds and standing 14.1 and 15.2 hands tall. They have a large chest and muscled legs, which made them ideal for working the hilly, rocky farmland of Vermont. There are small groups of original Morgan horses, mostly in rural western Vermont. The University of Vermont has a Morgan breeding program based on the original Morgan. The horses here can all trace their lineage to the early Morgans, and while their numbers are increasing, they’re still considered endangered.

Today, there are two separate groups of Morgan horses: Foundation and Non-Foundation. Foundation horses have little to no non-Morgan blood. Non- Foundation horses have a higher percentage of non-Morgan blood. If you’re looking for a work horse, go with a Foundation horse. If you’re looking for a horse that rides well and looks good in the ring, go with a non-Foundation Morgan.

Newfoundland Pony

Of the three equines covered in this article, the Newfoundland pony is the most unique. This breed developed less from the hand of humans than it did from the environment it originated in. Maritime Canada, particularly Newfoundland, where these ponies hail from, is a hard place to live. The winters are brutally cold, the terrain is rocky, and natural forage can be scarce. Only the strong and hardy, both human and pony, could survive these conditions.

Around 400 years ago, this section of Canada was settled by the English. These early settlers brought with them ponies, including Welch Mountain, Exmoor, Dartmoor, New Forest, Scottish Galloway, Connemara, and Highland ponies — all sturdy animals in their own right. When not in use, the ponies were turned loose to fend for themselves. On their own, these ponies began crossbreeding, thus starting the genetic line that was to become the Newfoundland pony.

Over time, the ponies grew hardier and developed traits that allowed them to survive in this harsh environment. Those traits included stockier bodies; strong, thick legs; and larger hooves — which allowed them to traverse the rocky terrain. Those that couldn’t adapt, died. With no “new” blood being introduced, these ponies continued to develop into a genetically separate animal. Newfoundland ponies have built up resistance to many equine diseases, and they can eat just about anything that resembles a plant.

Newfoundland ponies can weigh anywhere from 400 to 800 pounds and measure from 11.2 to 14.2 hands tall. Traditionally, they were used for everything on the small farms of the area. Despite their harsh environment, or because of it, these ponies are extremely intelligent and have a good temperament. When I visited the Newfoundland Pony Conservation Center, I was introduced to the Newfoundland pony by Emily Aho. What I found was a pony that was extremely curious and friendly.

With the coming of industry and tractors, the ponies were no longer needed. Some were bred
to other ponies and even small horses; many more were sent to slaughterhouses in Quebec, where they supplied the European market. Today, only about 400 pure Newfoundland ponies are left. Many of these animals are gelded males or mares too old to breed. That leaves an estimated 200 to 250 breeding animals capable of keeping the Newfoundland pony around.

Pure Spirit of American Horses

America was the birthplace of the equine breeds featured here, and today is home to some truly outstanding “American” breeds. There’s something about the pure spirit of the horse that makes life worth living.

Originally published in the May/June 2026 issue of Countryside and Small Stock Journal and regularly vetted for accuracy.