History

The KWPN is one of the largest Warmblood studbooks in the world. For 2008 –for an unprecedented fifth year in a row– the KWPN once again took the leading position for jumpers in the WBFSH rankings and again took the second spot in dressage.

Registered Warmblood breeding in the Netherlands is over a century old. King Willem II recognized the first Dutch studbook organization in 1887 and so laid the basis for regulated Warmblood breeding. During the 19th century several regional and local studbook organizations bred heavier horses specifically for working the clay soil of the north (Groningen). On the sandy soil of the middle Netherlands (Gelderland) a more noble and spirited horse was popular; a horse with faster action and good stamina.

Both types were regularly crossed and in 1969 these two organizations were combined into the national studbook organization WPN (Warmbloed Paarden-stamboek Nederland), which received the royal designation (Koninklijk) from Queen Beatrix in 1988. The KWPN (Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook of the Netherlands) currently has more than 28,000 members.

In 1983, the NA/WPN (North American department of the KWPN) was established to promote and support breeding, competition and enjoyment of the Dutch Warmblood horse in North America. As of January 1, 2006, the organization became known as the KWPN of North America, Inc. (KWPN-NA) to reflect the close relationship between the KWPN and its North American department.