ORIGINS
Abaco Barb horses are descendants of the Spanish Barbs, which were bred in the Barbary Coast of North Africa and taken to Europe by the Moors. In the late 1400's, explorers from Spain brought these horses to the Americas. Christopher Columbus is known to have started a horse farm in Cuba. A logging company took many of these horses from Cuba to the island of Abaco in the northeast part of the Bahamas in the 1800s, which is how the horses' name Abaco Barb derived. From 1999 to 2001, three organizations did seperate DNA testings that all showed that the Albaco Barbs were true decendants of the Spanish Barb. However, they do have traits of their own such as having only five lumbar vertebrae, whereas the average horse has six. They also come in colors different from the Spanish Barb. In 2002, these horses were recognized as a separte breed by the Horse of Americas Registry.

PHYSICAL FEATURES / PHYSIQUE
Abaco Barbs are small horses bred for hardiness and endurance. They have great stamina, and are capable of covering long distances with little food or water. They have stocky bodies, flat upright shoulders, large rangy heads with broad foreheads, pointy ears, slender and hard legs, narrow and durable feet. They also have rounded hind quarters, thick and long manes, and low-set long tails. Their average height is 13.2 to 14.2 hands. They can come in bay, black, brown, chestnut, pinto, and roan. It is also recognized for its "splashed white" pattern which is very rare among other breeds.

TEMPERAMENT
Abaco Barbs are high strung desert horses. They are tough and resistant, with an unstable personalities.

USES / ASSETS
Uses of this horse have been for military, agricultural work, competition, and general riding.

STATUS
Because of roads being built through its habitat, clear-cutting, and conflict with humans, the Abaco Barb horse is very close to becoming extinct. An effort is being made to protect the remaining horses. In 2002, a 3,800 acre preserve was established to protect what few horses are left. As of 2010, there were only 5 Abaco Barb horses remaining.