The Missouri Fox Trotter originated in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas around 1820. The early settlers of the area crossbred Thoroughbred, Morgans, and horses of mainly Spanish Barb ancestry. These settlers wanted to create a horse that would be well suited to carry a rider at a steady pace over rough terrain in long distances. Later the Missouri Fox Trotter was crossbred with Saddlebred and Tennessee Walking Horses, which made the breed compact, agreeable in character, but plain and sure-footed with an unusual gait. This gait became the Fox Trot in which the horse walks with the front feet and trots with the hind feet thus making less movement for the rider. The Missouri Fox Trotter can continue the gait for long distances of 5 to 8 mph and short distances at up to 10 mph. The Missouri Fox Trotter has style and animation in perfect rhythm.