 In 1986 , the Rocky Mountain Horse Association was created to increase population numbers and promote the breed ; there were only 26 horses in the first batch of <unk> . Since then , the association has , over the life of the registry , registered over <unk> horses as of 2015 , and the breed has spread to 47 states and 11 countries . In order to be accepted by the registry , a foal 's parentage must be verified via DNA testing . Horses must also , after reaching 23 months of age , be inspected to ensure that they meet the physical characteristic and gait requirements of the registry . The Rocky Mountain Horse is listed at " Watch " status by the American <unk> <unk> Conservancy , meaning that the estimated global population of the breed is fewer than 15 @,@ 000 , with fewer than 800 <unk> annually in the US . 
