On my recent trip to Argentina, I was introduced to the Criollo breed of horses. These horses originated from stock brought over by the Spanish and Portuguese explorers. The breed is now considered native to Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. Criollos stand between 13.3 and 14.3 hands tall. They are compact well muscled horses that are known for unbelievable endurance. When I first saw a Criollo, I thought the horse was a mix between a Quarter horse and some sort of pony. I had the privilege of riding a Criollo on a short trail ride. The horse had great agility, turned on a dime but bounced me around a bit during the trot and gallop. All in all, I was impressed by the health, demeanor and ability of this breed.
More information about this breed may be found at http://www.horseshowcentral.com/horse_breeds/criollo_horse/421/1