Nokota horses once ran wild in the Little Missouri Badlands, located in southwestern North Dakota.  The earliest horses to occupy the Northern Plains were Indian horses.  

The Nokota history has been traced back to the buffalo and war horses confiscated by the U.S. government from Chief Sitting Bull of the Sioux Indians when they surrendered at Fort Buford, North Dakota in 1881.  Approximately 350 head were sold to local post traders who in turn sold 250 head, including all mares, to the French nobleman, the Marquis DeMores, who established the town of Medora, gateway to what is now Theodore Roosevelt National park.  Many were war horses and had been in the battle of Little Big Horn for they carried the scars from the rifles of General Custers troops.  The Marquis intended to breed horses on a large scale with these Sioux mares as the foundation stock.

In the summer of 1884, 60 of the DeMores mares were purchased by A.C. Huidekoper, who owned the HT Ranch which was the earliest large scale ranch in North Dakota.  Mr. Huidekoper had purchased racing Thoroughbred stallions and Percheron stallions from Kentucky.  One of the Thoroughbred stallions was the famous sire Lexington.  This extreme cross was to produce long-winded, fast, strong saddle horses and he called this mix "American Horses".

After the death of the Marquis DeMores in 1896, some of his herd was rounded up and sold.  The remaining horses were left in what is now Theodore Roosevelt National Park and became known as "wild horse country".  These horses are the foundation for the Nokota horse. 

Horsemen Frank and Leo Kuntz from Linton, North Dakota are primarily responsible for saving the Nokota.  The brothers bought a few horses from a 1978 Park Service roundup in Medora, North Dakota and immediately recognized that the horses were a breed unto themselves.  Through their efforts of much research, including blood typing, and determination to preserve this historic Indian horse, the Nokota was recognized as a registered breed in 1991. 

The Nokota Horse Conservancy, Inc. was formed in June 1999 by a group of people dedicated to preserving this unique strain of horses and ensuring their survival into the next century.  This non-profit organization was established to provide a sanctuary for these rare horses.   If you are interested in helping protect these horses the Conservancy offers a "Sponsor A Horse Program" .  Please visit their website at www.nokotahorse.org.

The Legend of the Nokota Horse  
 

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