Narragansett Pacer

People usually end up searching for the Narragansett Pacer when they’ve heard the name in a history book, a gaited-horse conversation, or a family story from New England—and want to know one simple thing: what was it, and does it still exist?

The short answer is that the Narragansett Pacer was a famous American riding horse of the 1700s, valued for a smooth, ground-covering gait, and it did not survive as a distinct, pure breed into the modern era.^{1, 2}

Quick facts (and what’s often misunderstood)

• Origin: Colonial New England, strongly associated with Rhode Island and the Narragansett Bay region.^{1, 2}
• Status: Extinct as a distinct breed (not simply “rare”).^{1, 2}
• Known for: A smooth “ambling” gait (often discussed alongside pacing), making it comfortable over distance and on rough roads.^{1, 2}
• Common colours: Frequently described as chestnut, though historical descriptions vary.¹
• Modern relationship to other breeds: Better thought of as an influence on later American horses (through bloodlines and type), rather than a living breed with a registry today.^{1, 3}

History of the Narragansett Pacer

The Narragansett Pacer is often described as the first horse type developed in what became the United States, shaped in the 1700s from imported stock (commonly linked to British Isles gaited horses, with other influences discussed in historical sources).^{1, 4}

It became widely admired as a saddle horse in the 18th century—steady underfoot, comfortable to ride, and useful for the everyday travel rhythms of colonial life, where distance and uneven tracks mattered more than flash.^{1, 5}

By the 1800s, the “pure” strain faded. Large numbers were exported (including to the Caribbean), and remaining horses were crossed into other developing American types, until the Narragansett Pacer no longer existed as a distinct breed.^{1, 2}

Gait and physical type

Despite the name, the Narragansett Pacer wasn’t only about a true pace. Historical accounts describe it as showing an ambling gait—smooth and efficient, prized because it carried a rider with less jolting than a trot, especially over long days.¹

Descriptions of conformation tend to emphasise a lighter, longer-lined riding build rather than a heavy draught type—an animal made for covering ground, not for pulling stumps.¹

The Narragansett Pacer’s place in American horse history

Even after the breed disappeared, its influence lingered. The Narragansett Pacer is regularly mentioned among the ancestral ingredients that helped shape later American riding and harness types, especially in discussions of gait and early “American horse” development.^{1, 3}

In the broader story of harness horses, Encyclopaedia Britannica notes Narragansett Pacer blood as part of the early heritage that fed into the American pacer tradition.⁶

Modern-day uses (and what’s realistic today)

Because the Narragansett Pacer is extinct as a breed, there aren’t modern “Narragansett Pacer” horses competing under that banner, and there’s no straightforward set of breed standards to rely on.^{1, 2}

If you’re drawn to the idea of a comfortable, naturally gaited riding horse, the modern path is usually to look at established gaited breeds and individual horses known for smooth intermediate gaits—then assess temperament, soundness and training on their own merits.

Health, care and lifespan: keep it general

The original article listed specific “health concerns” for the Narragansett Pacer (laminitis, colic, navicular disease) and a set lifespan. Those conditions are real, but they’re not unique to one extinct colonial breed, and there isn’t a modern population to generate reliable breed-level health statistics.

For any horse, the practical essentials are consistent: appropriate diet, dental care, parasite management, hoof care, safe conditioning, and early attention to signs of colic or lameness.

Claims to remove or treat with caution

“Relationship to the Marwari horse”

The Narragansett Pacer is a North American colonial horse type; the Marwari is an Indian breed with its own distinct history. A direct relationship between the two is not supported in the mainstream references used for this edit, and the claim should be removed unless you can supply a strong, scholarly source for a specific genetic or documented historical link.^{1, 2}

“Popular in the United States and gaining popularity in Australia”

This doesn’t fit the breed’s status as extinct. What can be said, accurately, is that the Narragansett Pacer remains culturally and historically interesting, and it’s frequently referenced in discussions of early American horses and gaited bloodlines.^{1, 5}

Famous Narragansett Pacers

Many prominent Americans are reported to have owned Narragansett Pacers, including George Washington.¹

The original draft’s specific “famous horses” (for example, named individuals with detailed stories and dates) should be treated carefully: without high-quality primary or museum sources, it’s better to avoid repeating colourful but weakly sourced anecdotes.

Preservation: what “saving the breed” can and can’t mean

Because the Narragansett Pacer no longer exists as a distinct breed population, “preserving the breed” today mostly means preserving the history: archival research, responsible interpretation, and careful separation of documented fact from later folklore.^{5, 2}

That work still matters. It’s how an animal that once moved quietly through everyday colonial life stays visible—hoofprints in the record, even after the horses themselves are gone.⁵

Is the Narragansett Pacer extinct?

Yes. It is generally described as extinct as a distinct breed by the late 19th century, with the last known individuals often placed around the late 1800s.^{1, 2}

What gait did it have?

It’s most strongly associated with an ambling, smooth intermediate gait (often discussed alongside pacing), valued for comfort and efficiency over distance.¹

Was it a harness racing horse?

It was used for riding and local racing in its time, and it appears in the broader ancestry discussions around American pacing traditions in harness history.^{1, 6}

Can I buy a Narragansett Pacer today?

Not as a registered, living breed. If you’re looking for the same “feel”—smooth gait, comfortable long-distance riding—focus on individual gaited horses and reputable breeders within existing breeds.

References

1. Narragansett Pacer (overview, history, characteristics) — Wikipedia
2. Harness racing (historical context; mentions Narragansett Pacer heritage) — Encyclopaedia Britannica
3. American Saddlebred (breed history mentioning Narragansett Pacer as an ancestor) — Wikipedia
4. History of the American Saddlebred (mentions Narragansett Pacer as early American gaited type) — American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association
5. Arcade exhibit showcases research on the Narragansett Pacer (Rhode Island Historical Society exhibit; academic research context) — Roger Williams University
6. The Narragansett Pacer – the Lost Horse of the New England Colonies — New England Historical Society
7. Narragansett pacer (topic entry) — Encyclopaedia Britannica
8. Conservation Priority List — The Livestock Conservancy