The Alter Real is a breed of horse that originated in Portugal. Their name comes the village Alter de Chao. Real means 'royal' in Portuguese. They are an Iberian breed and are considered Baroque horses. They are closely related to the more common Lusitano. They can be bay, brown, black, grey, and occasionally chestnut.
Real is Portuguese for "royal", and the purpose of the stud was to provide the royal stables at Lisbon with horses suitable for classical equitation, a pursuit followed enthusiastically by King Dom Jose I, as well as with quality carriage horses for court purposes.
Soil and grazing conditions at Alter were conducive to the raising of top-class stock, and for many years the stud produced a particularly fine stamp of horse.
Alter and its horses were also famous because of the association with Portugal's most distinguished Master of Horse, the Marquis of Marialva (1313-99), the "Portuguese La Guerinière".
The word "real" means royal and the breed was established by the Braganza royal family in 1747.
During the Napoleonic invasion the breed suffered a setback and was contaminated by infusions of English Thoroughbred, Arab, Norman and Hanoverian blood.
The AlterReal is intelligent and eager to learn and needs to be handled by experienced and knowledgeable horsemen.
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