The formation of horse associations is vital to ongoing success in establishing a type of horse as a horse breed. As a "type" of horse begins to assume its own unique traits, those traits become known as desired traits and the horses exhibiting these traits become popular. From the wish to maintain the valuable characteristics of the animal as a breed, associations form. Horse associations establish conformation guidelines for the establishment and ongoing health of a particular horse breed. Associations handle the ongoing registry of that breed and horse associations become the best source of information concerning their horse breed. They constantly gather and organize breed information and pr