In the Canadian melting pot, the breeds that came with the early settlers mixed and gave their bloodlines to our native Canadian equines: the Newfoundland and Lac La Croix Indian ponies, and the Sable Island, Canadian, Bashkir Curly and western feral horses.

Heavier breeds were needed for the huge task of building the nation. Scots imported Clydesdales, the English their Shires and Suffolk Punches. These settlers and their horses opened up the west, built the railway, cleared the forests and cultivated the vast prairies.

Links to more information:

A Brief Look at Draft Horse Numbers (Genesis reprint pdf)