US horse population, 2003 versus 2016
The number of horses in the United States totals 7.2 million, according to the latest data available (2016 survey data published by the American Horse Council). The horse population has dropped nearly 2 million since 2003.
| State/Country | 2003 Horse Total | 2016 Horse Total | Decline in Horses | Percent Decline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 148,152 | 114,300 | 33,852 | 22.85 |
| Alaska | 11,449 | 9,100 | 2,349 | 20.52 |
| Arizona | 177,124 | 142,000 | 35,124 | 19.83 |
| Arkansas | 168,014 | 132,300 | 35,714 | 21.26 |
| California | 698,345 | 534,500 | 163,845 | 23.46 |
| Colorado | 255,503 | 205,300 | 50,203 | 19.65 |
| Connecticut | 51,968 | 40,400 | 11,568 | 22.26 |
| Delaware | 11,083 | 8,000 | 3,083 | 27.82 |
| Florida | 500,124 | 387,100 | 113,024 | 22.60 |
| Georgia | 179,512 | 133,100 | 46,412 | 25.85 |
| Hawaii | 8,037 | 6,100 | 1,937 | 24.10 |
| Idaho | 158,458 | 125,100 | 33,358 | 21.05 |
| Illinois | 192,524 | 150,400 | 42,124 | 21.88 |
| Indiana | 202,986 | 172,600 | 30,386 | 14.97 |
| Iowa | 199,220 | 154,600 | 44,620 | 22.40 |
| Kansas | 178,651 | 138,600 | 40,051 | 22.42 |
| Kentucky | 320,173 | 238,000 | 82,173 | 25.67 |
| Louisiana | 164,305 | 120,500 | 43,805 | 26.66 |
| Maine | 37,854 | 28,600 | 9,254 | 24.45 |
| Maryland | 152,930 | 101,500 | 51,430 | 33.63 |
| Massachusetts | 37,529 | 29,500 | 8,029 | 21.39 |
| Michigan | 234,477 | 188,900 | 45,577 | 19.44 |
| Minnesota | 182,229 | 145,700 | 36,529 | 20.05 |
| Mississippi | 113,063 | 87,400 | 25,663 | 22.70 |
| Missouri | 281,255 | 229,000 | 52,255 | 18.58 |
| Montana | 129,997 | 104,900 | 25,097 | 19.31 |
| Nebraska | 150,891 | 117,100 | 33,791 | 22.39 |
| Nevada | 51,619 | 41,200 | 10,419 | 20.18 |
| New Hampshire | 14,681 | 11,700 | 2,981 | 20.31 |
| New Jersey | 82,982 | 59,400 | 23,582 | 28.42 |
| New Mexico | 147,181 | 113,500 | 33,681 | 22.88 |
| New York | 201,906 | 154,000 | 47,906 | 23.73 |
| North Carolina | 256,269 | 205,200 | 51,069 | 19.93 |
| North Dakota | 59,391 | 47,600 | 11,791 | 19.85 |
| Ohio | 306,898 | 256,000 | 50,898 | 16.58 |
| Oklahoma | 326,134 | 252,700 | 73,434 | 22.52 |
| Oregon | 167,928 | 135,200 | 32,728 | 19.49 |
| Pennsylvania | 255,763 | 223,600 | 32,163 | 12.58 |
| Rhode Island | 3,509 | 2,600 | 909 | 25.90 |
| South Carolina | 94,773 | 73,600 | 21,173 | 22.34 |
| South Dakota | 120,878 | 96,500 | 24,378 | 20.17 |
| Tennessee | 206,668 | 165,800 | 40,868 | 19.77 |
| Texas | 978,822 | 767,100 | 211,722 | 21.63 |
| United States | 9,222,847 | 7,246,835 | 1,976,012 | 21.43 |
| Utah | 120,183 | 96,400 | 23,783 | 19.79 |
| Vermont | 24,540 | 19,800 | 4,740 | 19.32 |
| Virginia | 239,102 | 183,600 | 55,502 | 23.21 |
| Washington | 249,964 | 197,200 | 52,764 | 21.11 |
| West Virginia | 89,880 | 69,800 | 20,080 | 22.34 |
| Wisconsin | 178,636 | 150,300 | 28,336 | 15.86 |
| Wyoming | 99,257 | 78,600 | 20,657 | 20.81 |
Sources: American Horse Council