Mural in homage to the Alter Real
Initially called Alter-do-chão, but later its name was changed to Alter-Real, the breed is descended from Andalusian horses brought from Spain. Between 1809 and 1810, the breed was threatened during the Napoleonic invasions, when General Junot's French troops stole the best specimens of the breed. Crossbreeding with Thoroughbreds and Arabians weakened the breed, causing a great loss of its racial character, with 12 pure Zapata mares of the breed remaining.
They were saved from extinction through the importation of three Andalusian stallions in 1992 directly from Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. At the end of the 20th century, measures were taken to restore the Alter-Real to its former characteristics and its best use in the modern world, in addition to its preservation.
Today, the reproduction of the Alter-Real is controlled by the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture and its use is in Equestrianism and Dressage and it participated in the formation of the Brazilian Manga-Larga Paulista and Manga-Larga Marchador horses at the beginning of the 19th century.
(Source:Wikipedia)