Like many “modern” horse breeds (as opposed to much older breeds like Arabians, Fjords or Icelandics), the Tennessee Walking Horse was developed using several breeds. Some of these include the Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Saddlebred, Morgan, and Canadian and Narragansett Pacers.
The breed’s studbook “closed” in 1947, which means there haven’t been any outside influences from non-registered horses since that time, and the Tennessee Walking Horse has been recognized as a breed of own since 1954.
Tennessee Walking Horses have a smooth, four-beat gait called the running walk.