What breed of horse is known for its smooth 'running walk' gait?

The breed of horse known for its smooth “running walk” gait is the Tennessee Walking Horse.

Developed in Tennessee during the late 18th and 19th centuries, the breed was intended as a comfortable, versatile riding horse for farms and plantations. Its ancestry includes Narragansett and Canadian Pacers, gaited Spanish horses, and later Morgan, Standardbred, Thoroughbred, and American Saddlebred bloodlines.

The running walk is a distinctive four-beat gait that follows the same basic footfall pattern as an ordinary walk but moves considerably faster. The horse’s hind feet typically overstep the prints of its front feet, while its head nods rhythmically. This smooth movement makes the breed popular for trail and pleasure riding.

The Tennessee Walking Horse is sometimes confused with other gaited breeds, such as the Paso Fino or Icelandic Horse. It is also associated with “Big Lick” show movement, but that exaggerated style is separate from the naturally smooth running walk and has prompted longstanding welfare controversy.