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Identified Levels - How Does it Work?

Agriculture Canada, under the Animal Pedigree Act, has recognized the ApHCC as an Evolving Breed since 1999. As decribed by the Animal Pedigree Act, Evolving Breeds must evolve toward a Distinct Breed.  As described by in the Animal Pedigree Act Secretary's Manual "The key consideration for a distnict breed is the requirement for  genetic stability.  In practice, this requires that the pedigree background as well as the phenotypic (observed) characteristics of multiple generations can be assessed."

The ApHCC Book of Parental Stock defines the horses that are accepted as the "starting blocks" for the Appaloosa Evolving Breed process; the starting genetics resources.  Eligible mating from within the Parental Stock population will result in the first generation (F1) of Appaloosas identified within the Evolving Breed parameters.  The ApHCC Book of Identified Appaloosas (By-laws, Section VII) defines the matings that will produce F1, F2, F3 and F4 Appaloosas.  These Identified Levels indicate successive generations of breeding through which the Appaloosa breed is evolving toward Distinct Breed recognition. It is important to note that the "F1, F2, F3 and F4" designation is a genetic term referring to the filial generations following the parental generation.  As defined in Webster's Dictionary, "filial" 2. Genetics designating or of any generation following the parental: the first filial generation is designated F1, the second (produced from the first) F2, etc.

The Book of Parental Stock includes the following:
                       "a. Appaloosa horses for which an ApHCC Certificate of Registration or
                            Certificate of Pedigree was issued dated prior to Ministerial approval                                  of the Articles of Amendment adding the Appaloosa Horse as an evolving                                  breed".
Simply put, this means that under the ApHCC By-laws, any Appaloosa registered by ApHCC between 01 January 1954 and 31 December 1998 will be considered, at the absolute minimum, Parental Stock, even though their parents may not be horses included in the Book of Parental Stock (eg. Grade, unknown, Arabian). Other Parental Stock may be ApHC (Moscow, Idaho) horses which do not have Arabian or unknown parents, AQHA registered or Appendix Horses, Canadian Quarter Horses and Jockey Club or Canadian Thoroughbred Society horses.

However, some of the Appaloosas registered prior to the 1999 recognition as an Evolving Breed, may have the "pedigree background as well as the 'phenotype' characteristics of multiple generations". So how do these Appaloosas fit into the Evolving Breed process?  The ApHCC regulation for Evaluation of Appaloosa Horses for Identified Appaloosa Classification allows owners the option of having their Parental Stock Appaloosa evaluated for identification into one of the four Levels of Identified Appaloosa Horses.  This process includes an evaluation of the "pedigree background", to determine the degree
of Appaloosa lineage, and a physical Inspection by an ApHCC Inspector to determine "phenotypic characteristics", the Appaloosa breed standards.

To explain the pedigree evaluation process, Diagram 1 illustrates the process of determining the "starting point".  The dam, JEANETTE B #1763 ApHCC has one ApHCC registered parent, the other parent is a "bay mare".  Since unregistered horses are not included in the Book of Parental Stock, "bay mare" may not be considered a "starting point".  However, JEANETTE B was accepted by the ApHCC in 1963 and an ApHCC Certificate was issued for her.  Therefore she is eligible for Parental Stock recognition in accordance with the Book of Parental Stock definition.  JEANETTE B is therefore the "starting point" for determining Appaloosa lineage.

 
A Parental Stock horse bred to a Parental Stock Horse produces a Level 1 or F1 offspring.  Successive generations are numbered one higher than the lowest parent generation.
The physical inspection by the ApHCC Inspector will determine if the horse meets ApHCC Breed Standards.  For example, height of the horse, whether the horse us monochrid or cryptorchid (stallions), whether the horse has an overbite or underbite (stallions and mares) and other information such as base colour, coat pattern, body type, cannon bone circumference, etc. As Appaloosas are bred and the offspring registered in the books of the ApHCC, there will be a natural progression through the Identified Levels 1 - 4.  If owners elect to have their horses evaluated, a more rapid transition to Distinct Breed recognition may be acheived.  As more Appaloosas have their pedigrees evaluated and physical inspection completed for breed standard verification, more horses will be identified at the higher levels (F3 & F4) and purebred individuals will be identified toward Distinct Breed recognition.

	Sire Parental Stock	Sire F1Appaloosa	Sire F2 Appaloosa	Sire F3 Appaloosa	Sire F4 Appaloosa
Dam Parental Stock	F1 Appaloosa	F1 Appaloosa	F1 Appaloosa	F1 Appaloosa	F1 Appaloosa
Dam F1 Appaloosa	F1 Appaloosa	F2 Appaloosa	F2 Appaloosa	F2 Appaloosa	F2 Appaloosa
Dam F2 Appaloosa	F1 Appaloosa	F2 Appaloosa	F3 Appaloosa	F3 Appaloosa	F3 Appaloosa
Dam F3 Appaloosa	F1 Appaloosa	F2 Appaloosa	F3 Appaloosa	F4 Appaloosa	F4 Appaloosa
Dam F4 Appaloosa	F1 Appaloosa	F2 Appaloosa	F3 Appaloosa	F4 Appaloosa	F4 Appaloosa