APPALOOSA

The Appaloosa and the Nez Percé

Only 20 miles away from their wished-for destination, the Canadian border, on October 5, 1877 Nez Percé Indians surrendered to their persecutors, which were led by a man named General Howard. Hungry and exhausted and physically devastated by the costly fighting, Chief Joseph and his tribal followers were faced with the saddening truth:   The escape from the life in a reservation has failed. Several Appaloosa horses have accompanied the dramatic and strenuous attempt to escape. Bravely and full of strength, they have fought through rivers and valleys.

Better Times

The Indian tribe of the Nez Percé used to make their living by fishing and farming. They lived at the Salmon and Snake Rivers along the borders of Washington, Idaho and Oregon. One day, their contact to the neighboring Shoshoni led them to the alien, elk-like animals. The Nez Percé felt amazed. Time and again, they swapped several horses and entered a rather promising time.
The spotted horses of the Appaloosa variety proved soon to be beneficial for their new lifestyle. Being best suited to humans, they distinguish themselves by their power, grace, spur footedness and bravery.  To the Nez Percé the brave and strong Appaloosa appeared to be the perfect companions for hunting buffalos and in fighting.
Without any knowledge about the fundamentals of breeding, the Nez Percé intuitively gained great strides in breeding.

From What Is the Name Appaloosa Derived From

One border of the settling area of the Nez Percé tribe is defined by the Palouse River, which enters the Snake River.  For the wheat growers located there, the river of Palouse served as the namesake of the for the spotted Palouse horses.  At a later point in time, they were called A Palousey horse, which became Apalousey and, eventually, Appaloosa.