The Icelandic horse has five gaits. Among the usual gaits – walk, trot and canter – the Icelandic horse also has the magical tölt, a remarkably smooth four-beat running walk. The tölt is the speciality of the Icelandic horse – the Icelandic horse is one of very few species in the world that has both tölt and pace and one that has preserved it very well. When tölting each hoof spends a shorter period of time on the ground than in walk, and there are always one or two hoofs on the ground at any time. This gives a supremely comfortable gait for the rider. It can be so smooth that a rider can carry a glass of beer without spilling a drop. Tölt can be performed at a variety of speeds. No other breed can manage this gait as naturally and beautifully as the Icelandic horse.

Pace is the fifth gait and is not found in all Icelandic horses. A good Icelandic 5-gaiter will show short bursts of flying pace under saddle, covering 100m in under 8 seconds, or 250m in under 20 seconds. Pace is highly prized among the Icelanders, but is saved for special occasions and only ridden at top speed.

The Icelandic horse is strong, enthusiastic, forward-going and docile. The Icelandic horse is also self-assured and behaves well in traffic. Most Icelandic horses today are between 13hh and 14hh, hence their pony-like height look. They are extremely strong and in Iceland are expected to carry any adult, no matter how tall and heavy.

The Icelandic horse can be found in over 40 different colours, with hundreds of colour combinations.

The Icelandic horse can be used for various purposes - pleasure rides for the whole family, farm work, endurance, riding club activities, specialised competitions for Icelandic horses and much more. Its potentially explosive power and willingness to work for the rider is very attractive to experienced riders and its easy going, well mannered behaviour is highly appealing to novice riders. Icelandic horses are surefooted also in challenging terrains, have strong and steady nerves and an easy interaction with other horses – all these features make riding (alone or with others) in the nature or on the arena a pleasant, save and hassle-free experience. The fourth and fifth gaits (tölt and flying pace) add another dimension to riding – especially the magical tölt is an awesome experience. Tölt is very gentle to the rider’s back and is widely acknowledged as an ideal gait for people struggling with back problems.

If one likes the technical challenge of dressage but craves the exhilaration of speed, one will love Icelandic competition riding. Gait riding tests require accuracy, wide flowing movements, speed and elegance. Pace races are for speed but also demand skill and horsemanship.

The history of the breed can be traced more than 1,000 years back when the Vikings from Norway brought the horse to Iceland where it has survived and developed in harsh and often extreme weather conditions. A few breeds are often mentioned as possible ancestors of the Icelandic horse - The Norwegian Fjord, the Nordland horse and the Lyng horse. Recent research has shown that the Icelandic horse is related to the Shetland pony (Norwegians conquered the Shetland Islands around year 800) as well as to some Mongolian breeds. In year 930 a law was passed in Iceland prohibiting the import of horses and other animals to the country. Since then the Icelandic horse has remained pure-bred and exclusive. Due to the country’s isolation throughout centuries and the unique local circumstances, the original qualities of the horse were preserved.

The popularity of the Icelandic horse has risen enormously. There are more than 100,000 Icelandic horses in Iceland, all registered and carefully overseen to assure the purity of the breed.  There are also around 100,000 Icelandic horses in other countries. The horse has become extremely popular in Europe over the last 30 years and in North America over the last 15 years.