Data Paddock | The Number of Horses in the U.S. and Other Equine Demographics (2024)

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Data Paddock | The Number of Horses in the U.S. and Other Equine Demographics? ›

Horse populations

The United States is home to over 7.2 million horses. Of those horses, about 145,727 reside in Minnesota, which ranks 18th in the nation for the largest horse population. The leading states for horse populations include: Texas: 767,100 horses.

Horse populations

The United States is home to over 7.2 million horses. Of those horses, about 145,727 reside in Minnesota, which ranks 18th in the nation for the largest horse population. The leading states for horse populations include: Texas: 767,100 horses.

The average horse owner is a married female, age 35-54, with kids between the ages of 12 and 17. They also enjoy country music, hiking and outdoor activities, read lots of publications, and own cats and dogs. The majority own multiple horses.

Less than 10 percent of the world's horses and less than 1 percent of the donkeys and mules in the world are located in the U.S.

While there is a slight downshift in the total population of horses from 2023 (6.6 million) compared with 2017 (7.2 million), that's only a slight consideration when compared to the growing numbers in jobs and expenditures.

But as rare as white horses are — fewer than 8 percent — it is amazing how they have fascinated virtually every culture. White horses are chosen to stand for good and for bad. One of the Four Horsem*n of the Apocalypse rides a pale horse, but the unicorn — which is invariably depicted as white — stands for purity.

The total US horse population is in slight decline, with 6.6m in 2023, compared to 7.2m in 2017.

Do Horses Prefer Male or Female Owners? It's the age-old question, like asking if your horse prefers apples over carrots. The truth is, horses don't swipe left or right based on gender; they connect with those who treat them well, regardless of whether you're in breeches or a skirt.

The United States has had the most horse ownership among the world's populations consistently. In both 2020 and 2021, the United States had a horse population of over 10.6 million animals, which was 18% of the world's population of animals.

Horse Owner Demographics

Of the nearly 2 million horse owners in the US, only 28% earn annual incomes exceeding $100,000 while 35% have an annual household income below $50,000. Almost half of horse owners are from the middle class, earning incomes between $25,000 - $75,000.

What city has the most horses in the US? ›

Ocala/Marion County is officially named the “Horse Capital of the World®,” a testament to the County's unique involvement in all things equestrian and its record of producing some of the finest champions in the sport.

Overall, Quarter horses represented the highest percentage of resident horses by breed (42.1 percent). Quarter horses also represented the majority of horses in the West and South Central regions (55.5 and 61.8 percent, respectively).

How many horses are in the US? The number of horses in the United States totals 7.2 million, according to the latest data available (2016 survey data published by the American Horse Council).

Mongolia holds more than 5 million horses, an equine population which outnumbers the country's human population. The horses live outdoors all year at 30 °C (86 °F) in summer down to −40 °C (−40 °F) in winter, and search for food on their own.

Kentucky is the United States' leading producer of horses overall, and the number one producer of Thoroughbreds, with 30% of the national foaling total.

The United States has had the most horse ownership among the world's populations consistently. In both 2020 and 2021, the United States had a horse population of over 10.6 million animals, which was 18% of the world's population of animals.

Nevada is home to the majority of America's wild horses. The state arguably has the most wild horse and burro history as well. In the last herd spotlight about Nevada's Stone Cabin wild horses, we told you about the first Congressionally approved wild horse and burro roundup.

But the horses that live on federal lands are just a fraction of the total wild horse population in the United States. There are around 300,000 free-roaming horses across many different jurisdictions nationwide, including on tribal lands, according to a July 2021 study in the Journal of Wildlife Management.