The Icelandic Toelter-horse is said to have originated in Northern Europe. The horse has lived in Iceland for 1100 years without the admixture of other breeds, but despite this isolation, it has gradually developed into several strains.

The horse came to Iceland with the Norse settlers, and provided them with trustworthy assistance in their difficult struggle for existence. Important happenings in the early history of the Iclenaders are everywhere connected with horses. Indeed, all life was to some extent dependent on the use of the horse. It provided the connection between far-flung districts in a land without roads; it crossed rushing rivers in a land wihtout bridges; it carried produce to market and purchase home again. Many Icelanders owed their life to their horses. Centuries of isolation, along with harsh winters, have moulded a compact and squarely-built horse. Its winter coat is long and thick, making the horse extraordinarily resistant to cold. The lean years of former centuries were very hard on the stock; only a small proportion survived. These were the horses of suprassing hardiness.

Most breeds of horses have just three gaits; the walk, the trot and the canter. The Icelandic horse has, in additino, the toelt and the pace. Icelanders consider these last two to be the major pride of the cadence, each foot independently. The trot is a two-beat gait, in which front and rear legs on opposite sides move together. The canter is a three-beat gait; and easy canter makses for a comfortable riding. The toelt is a remarkably smooth, four-beat gait, in which the horse moves its feet in the same order as in the walk. The pace is a two-beat movement, in which both legs on each side move together.

In our day, the Icelandic horse, which for centuries was a beast of burden and performed the most difficult tasks, has been deservedly acknowledged to be the most versatile riding horse in the world.