The official Spanish Stud Book for our horse breed was first published in 1913. The name given to this registry of horses was "Caballos de Pura Raza Española" - Horses of the Pure Spanish Breed - and from then, this became the only CORRECT name for our breed.
Caballos de Pura Raza Española (P.R.E) is the official name of the horse of Spain, accepted and recognised by government and owners and endorsed by the national breed association. P.R.Es are produced throughout all of Spain and in 22 other countries around the world.
In the past, the name "Andalusian" has been used when describing this breed. In Spain, the name "Andalusian" actually fell out of favor due to increasing numbers of P.R.E.s being bred over all of Spain, beyond their ancestral birthplace, the province of Andalucia. To avoid partiality toward the breeders of Andalucia, the horse was then named el caballo de pura raza española, the P.R.E..
Breeders in Spain formally endorsed the idea using the national name "Pura Raza Española (P.R.E.)" instead of the regional name "Andalusian" during the 1970s.
The horses of the Spanish Stud Book, P.R.E.s, have qualified for inclusion by virtue of birth to registered parents (inscripcion). They then have the opportunity to be included on their own merits as reproducers by complying with and satisfying the requirements of the Revision process (valoración) after their third birthday.
In October 2001, for the first time in Australia, breeders were given the opportunity to join with the parent Spanish Stud Book to participate in the Revision process to have their horses included.
Horses that pass the criteria can now be assured that they rank equally to all the other P.R.E. horses of the world, thus earning the right to be called P.R.E.
