Welcome to the Sport and Performance Horse Association of New Zealand Inc

SPHANZ has been created to fill what we believe is a large gap in the Sport Horse Industry in New Zealand. For many decades now Stud Books such as the New Zealand Warmblood Association have provided exceptional service to New Zealand sport horse breeders. They have ensured that horses who have their direct ancestry tracing back to the European Warmblood Breeds have Registries and Stud Books carefully managed by a team of dedicated Committee members .

However, there are a great many horses purpose bred for sport, leisure and pleasure in New Zealand who do not qualify for the NZWB Studbook or any other breed registry for that matter. These horses may be the traditional “Stationbred” horse, a cross bred pony of unknown origins or even a Kiamanawa mustered in off the ranges. Whilst these horses may not boast a lineage of European breeding, the team at SPHANZ believe that they have an equally important role to play in the competition and leisure spheres in New Zealand. Their breeder, date of birth and pedigree should be recorded and kept in a database solely for this purpose.

SPHANZ aims to ensure all breeds of horses and ponies in New Zealand can be registered according to international standards of best practice. This means ALL breeders have a space to gain recognition, proof of ownership and a passport which will stay with each horse throughout their lives.

SPHANZ offers:

• Pedigree recording

• Proof of breeding

• Unique Equine Life Number (UELN)

• Identification via microchipping and markings signed off on by a licenced veterinarian

• Internationally recognised FEI passports

• Optional DNA testing

• A comprehensive database of all horses registered

• A stud book system to improve the quality of breeding stock (both stallions and mares)

Any horse in New Zealand not already registered with another breed association / stud book allocating a UELN is eligible to register with SPHANZ.