The development and diffusion of the Tennessee walking horse : a case study in equine regional specialization

By the early 20th century, the Tennessee Walking Horse emerged as a distinct American horse breed in Nashville Basin in Middle Tennessee. The Walking Horse developed in Tennessee largely as a result of equine and human diffusion, preexisting breeding and sales infrastructure, regional demand for a specific type, the evolution of a complex and complimentary equine gene pool, and growing interest in recreational horse breeds. The Tennessee Walking Horse breed registry was organized in 1935 but Walking Horse diffusion patterns that persisted through the late 1980s were established as early as the 1920s. A model for equine regional specialization was developed based on the spatial characteristics of Walking Horse marketing patterns. This model can also be applied to other purebred livestock. The data set was constructed from registration papers held by the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association. The spatial relationships between breeders and buyers were mapped using county-level import and export sales characteristics to identify areas with the most intensive development. The overall trend in Walking Horse diffusion from its Middle Tennessee hearth is for horses to be sold most often to owners south and west with smaller numbers of sales north and east. By the 1990s, Walking Horses had diffused from their Middle Tennessee hearth to every U.S. state and many foreign countries. Although their diffusion may appear to be extensive, the rate of adoption has been slow in some regions due to the presence of previously established horse breeds, prejudice against gaited horses, and the popularity of other incompatible equine activities.