The Quarter Horse Heritage Project is dedicated to preserving and recognizing the rich heritage of the American Quarter Horse through education, historical research, and responsible registry advancement.

For generations, exceptional horses carrying documented Quarter Horse bloodlines have contributed to the breed's success in performance, ranch work, and competition while remaining outside the American Quarter Horse Association registry due to historical registration limitations rather than a lack of Quarter Horse heritage.

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Our mission is to promote a thoughtful, objective pathway that allows qualifying horses with verified Quarter Horse ancestry to earn AQHA Appendix registration through documented pedigree analysis, DNA verification, and the proven performance standards already established by the AQHA.

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This project is not about changing the identity of the American Quarter Horse. It is about preserving its history, recognizing its documented heritage, and ensuring that horses demonstrating both Quarter Horse ancestry and Quarter Horse ability have an opportunity to be evaluated under a responsible, performance-based system.

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By combining historical documentation, objective pedigree standards, genetic verification, and performance requirements, we believe it is possible to honor the past while strengthening the future of the American Quarter Horse by adding more incredible horses and genetic diversity for the breed.

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Who We Are

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The Quarter Horse Heritage Project was founded by Missy Benker of Secret Hills Ranch, together with a group of breeders, owners and horsemen who share a common interest in preserving and recognizing documented Quarter Horse heritage.

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The project began with a simple question: Should an APHA-registered horse with substantial, verifiable Quarter Horse ancestry have a carefully defined path to AQHA Appendix registration?

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From that question grew a proposal designed to recognize a limited group of horses that meet specific pedigree requirements, while respecting the integrity and history of the American Quarter Horse.

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The Quarter Horse Heritage Project is an independent grassroots effort. It is not affiliated with or operated by AQHA or APHA.