1. The Kiger Mustang is recognized by the Kiger Horse Association and Registry (KHAR).

2. The KHAR Recognizes the following coats as breed standard: 
- Dun
- Grullo
- Red Dun
- Bay
- Claybank
- Black

3. Old Cowboys told stories of beautiful mustangs with unique markings that looked they were decedents of Spanish horses. Two men, Ron Harding and Bill Phillips, searched for the horses from the stories, and they found them in what is now the state of Oregon.

4. The very first "Kiger Mustangs" were dun mustangs found during the clearing of Riddle HMA in 1976.  The following year, the famous Beatty Butte '27' were found.  While the 27 horses of Spanish Mustang type got the most press, it was these initial 7 horses found in Riddle HMA that first confirmed to Bill Phillips and E. Ron Harding, BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Wild Horse Specialist, that the dun colored Spanish Mustang did indeed exist in southeast Oregon.  Bill Phillips and Ron Harding noticed that the herd had similar color, conformation and distinct markings known as the dun factor.  Genetic testing was performed at the University of Kentucky to determine there heritage. The DNA testing showed a high level of Spanish markers. It was also noted that the primitive gene for the dun factor was present in the breed. Thus the Kiger Mustangs are thought to be descended from the horses brought over to North America by the Spanish explorers in the early 1600's.  The BLM decided to manage the herd and to preserve the breed and currently have two herds,  the Kiger HMA and the Riddle Mountain HMA. This allows the breed to multiply and avoid being wiped out by natural catastrophe.

5. The Kiger Mustang is known for their Intelligence and Stamina

6. Their Height Range is generally between 13.2-15.2hh. 

7. One of the First Kiger Mustang Stallions Was Named Mesteno. He even starred in an entire series of Breyer Models to celebrate the breed. 

8. In addition to the horses in Oregon, there are also breeders that have used foundation stock from the wild and started breeding programs both in the US and Internationally.

9. Spirit Who Could Not Be Broken (popularly known as Spirit) was confirmed by Dreamworks animators to be a Kiger Mustang. 

10. The horse who was studied for Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron was a Kiger Mustang known as Donner before the movie's production. Sometime during or after production, Donner's name was changed to Spirit. Unlike his animated self, Donner was a domestic horse: he was born on a ranch in Bend, Oregon.
His father was the foundation stallion, Steens Kiger, who was the first horse admitted to the Steens Mountain Kiger Registry studbook. Spirit himself is listed in the Steens Mountain Kiger Registry as ‘Donner of Steens Mountain’.
Currently, Spirit is the ambassador for the Kiger Mustang breed. He helps educate the public about America’s wild horses and the protection and freedom they need.
After the movie production was finished in 2002, Spirit was moved to Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary where he spends his time in beautiful lush pastures. He posed for animators at Dreamworks for a total of almost two decades. Dreamworks chose to make Return to Freedom Spirit’s forever home to ensure the Mustang could raise awareness for wild horses. 

11. In 2018, the real Spirit was inducted into the Horse Stars Hall of Fame by the EQUUS Foundation. 

12. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron's Setting is Virginia, sometime in the mid-1860's.

13. While the Buckskin Coat in my recent Kiger Mustang mod matches the dark golden color of Spirit, Spirit is actually a Dun. He possesses a dorsal stripe, which runs from the withers to the tail. The buckskin color is not actually considered a breed standard color by the Kiger Horse Association and Registry (KHAR).