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Indigenous peoples residing on the Great Plains skillfully hunted buffalo from horseback. Horses were brought to North America by the Spanish in the sixteenth century.
Over time, Indigenous peoples domesticated horses and created a variety of tools to help them ride. As horses became an important companion for hunting and warfare and a symbol of status and wealth, they brought major changes to the lifestyles of Indigenous people. The diverse designs and colors on horse equipment aptly demonstrate their distinctive equine traditions.