Virginia Highlander
The Virginia Highlander is a small breed of horse with a four-beat ambling gait. It is between 13 and 14 hands (52 and 56 inches, 132 and 142 cm) high. Coat colors include roan, chestnut, black and gray, and the occasional white. Breed characteristics include a good temperament and a natural singlefoot gait. Pogo was the inspiration for the Virginia Highlander breed. He was a chestnut stallion foaled in 1960. Pogo was a small crossbred horse thought to have been sired by a Welsh pony, out of an Arabian/Tennessee Walker mare. He had a natural singlefoot gait. His owner William (Bill) M. Pugh was intrigued by the good-natured, naturally gaited stallion. He developed a breeding program for small gaited horses by crossing Pogo and his descendants with other Arabians, Tennessee Walkers, Morgans, American Saddlebreds, Hackney ponies and Welsh ponies. He bred the horses that met his criteria for conformation, disposition and gaited ability. The registry began with two foundation stallions named Shadow of the Ridge, and Pugh's Red Cloud. The Virginia Highlander Horse Association was formed in the early 1990s with the intention to promote the Virginia Highlander breed through registry and education. Twenty-two horses (20 mares and 2 stallions) made up the original foundation stock. By June 2004, there were more than 130 registered Virginia Highlanders beyond the original foundation animals.
| Life Span | 25-30 years |
| Weight | 380-550 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Virginia Highlander
Finding a responsible Virginia Highlander breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells horses commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Virginia Highlander. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Virginia Highlanders appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
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Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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