An “Ideal” Azteca aims to have the best combination of the foundation breeds (PRE and QH), it is often easiest to describe as having “the front end of the Andalusian with the backside of the Quarter Horse”.  This is a good basis to start from, although it is perhaps not quite as simple as that.

The Azteca should be well-built, but not overly muscled. The conformation faults found in the foundation breeds should not be reproduced in the Azteca as the Azteca is to be a versatile, athletic horse which is well able to prove itself in any field.

The Azteca should have both natural collection whilst also having a powerful shoulder, which allows for full extension. They should have a back which is strong enough to enable a grown man to be carried all day doing all tasks. The Azteca should be forward going, move backwards and laterally with agility, power and quickness.  The Azteca should also show courage and enjoyment in his work.

If properly breed, the Azteca will take its elegance, nobility, flair, grace and natural ability from their PRE ancestors and their strength, quickness, agility docility and natural cow-sense from their Quarter Horse ancestors.

The height range is 15-16.1hh for males and 14.3-16hh for mares. The head should be elegant and straight or slightly convex in profile, topped with small, fox-like ears and with expressive, set-apart eyes.  The neck should lead down in a well-muscled arch to well set apart, strong, sloping shoulders. The wither must be broad and muscled.  The back should be strong, short and straight, leading to a well-rounded, muscular croup.  The girth must be deep and full and the legs fine and strong, having good joints and muscled upper thighs.  Their pasterns must be “comfortable for riding” and the feed very strong and small.

The Aztecas mane and tail should be long and abundant (however, it should be borne in mind that Quarter Horses do not always have these) and the tail implanted at medium to low height.  Their coat should be silky. Only solid colours are allowed, however, this does include the whole range of chestnuts, duns and palominos.

The Azteca is a good doer and is capable of living inside or outside all year round, regardless of weather conditions.

The overall appearance of an Azteca should be square, proud, balances and rounded.

The breeding programme relevant for the UK is:

PRE x QH = Azteca D

Azteca D x QH = Azteca C

Azteca D x PRE = Azteca B

Azteca D x Azteca C or B = Azteca A

This process takes some length of time, so there are no Azteca A’s in this country, indeed, most Aztecas in the UK are Azteca Ds, and the geldings outnumber the mares some 2 to 1!

There is a picture of the King of Spain’s Azteca D, Mixteco, for you to look at in Photo Gallery 2.