PRESS RELEASE
More than 12,700 new horses and some 3,000 new stud farms were registered worldwide
In 2025, the PRE Stud Book (LG PRE ANCCE) registered 12,747 new foals in the Birth Register (6,286 colts and 6,461 fillies) in addition to incorporating 2,835 new stud farms. As of the 31st of December, of last year, the total breed census reached 291,138 horses (143,091 mares and 148,047 stallions), belonging to 51.354 active stud farms in 71 different countries. This data indicates that Purebred Spanish Horses represent 70% of all equines registered in Spain.
Among the newly incorporated stud farms, 41% are internationals, with Italy leading the list, followed by the United States and Germany. The other 59% are located in Spain, with Andalusia (47%), the Valencian Community and Madrid being the regions with the highest numbers.
Throughout the year, 10,152 changes of ownership were processed. For international markets, these services were generally concentrated in the United States, Italy, Mexico and France. At the same time, 5,770 Basic Breeding Stock Assessments were carried out. In terms of promotional efforts, authorized LG PRE Stud Book veterinarians undertook 32 trips to 25 countries to assess horses, including Greece, the United States, New Zeeland, Denmark, Honduras, Mexico and the Czech Republic.
Quality Certificates
All LG PRE ANCCE Stud Book activities operate under strict standards of quality, in keeping with UNE-EN ISO 9001:2015 norms. This has earned international recognition, thus making the organization a technical reference for other equine breeds in Europe.
ANCCE’s Genetic Molecular and Genomics Laboratory performs the genetic parentage analysis for all registered PRE Horses worldwide. The Lab has UNE-EN ISO 9001:2015 quality certification and is accredited by ENAC (in keeping with UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards) for genetic profile identification and equine filiation verification. This is the first and only laboratory in Spain with accreditation to analyze the genetic markers involved in equine coat colors.
ENAC accreditation guarantees compliance with all analytical quality standards. The laboratory is authorized by the Andalusian Regional Government and Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA), and is certified by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) in Ranking 1 for accuracy by having achieved a 100% match in external quality control tests.
Selection and Genetic Improvement
In 2025, the LG PRE ANCCE web published the genetic values and indexes for 175,375 horses, which were calculated based on data obtained at official performance tests. When it came to Conformation Traits for Dressage, the values of 37 conformation traits and the Global Genetic Index (GGI) of each horse were provided. For Dressage, the values of six variables and their corresponding GGI were also published.
The 2025 Catalog of Breeding Stock included 150 horses that earned one of the established genetic categories: 95 as Young Recommended Breeding Stock, 33 as Improver Breeding Stock, and 22 as Elite Breeding Stock.
Genomics Analysis
Within the scope of the GO EQUIGENOM project, ANCCE has concluded the design and manufacturing of the EQUIGENE array for genomic analysis. This tool incorporates equine genome data for parentage testing and the diagnoses of diseases, malformations, and hereditary defects. It also facilitates the study of genes associated with coat color, conformation, performance, behavior, and fertility, in addition to researching new markers linked to other pathologies.
Genomic analytical data provide breeders with technical information to facilitate breeding decision-making from an early age. The aim is to optimize resources, attain efficient genetic progress, and consolidate PRE quality standards for national and international marketing.
International Representation and Collaboration
Throughout 2025, the PRE Stud Book has participated in national and international conferences, meetings, and congresses, such as ICAR and EAAP. It has organized training courses for breeders and enthusiasts, as well as technical meetings with authorized veterinarians and collaborating associations worldwide.
Likewise, there was ample institutional collaboration between a number of organizations, including Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA), Regional governments, ASAJA (Agribusiness Association), and the MERAGEM research group. ANCCE also participated at meetings with bodies of which it is a member, including WBFSH (Scientific and Disciplinary Committees), WHIRDEC, RFEAGAS, FEACC, COPA-COGECA, and ISAG (International Society for Animal Genetics).
Institutional representatives interested in the technical operation and advances in genomic selection visited both the PRE Stud Book and Laboratory. Visitors included representatives from Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA--General Secretariat for Agricultural Resources and Food Safety, Directorate-General for Agricultural Production and Markets, and Assistant-Directorate-General for Livestock Production Resources), as well as the European Commissioner for Agriculture and the President of the Andalusian Regional Government.