In brief
- The Arabian is the most expensive breed on our list, with top horses selling for up to $150,000.
- The Arabian mare Pepita sold for €1.4 million at the Pride of Poland auction in 2015.
- Oldenburg sport horses at international level often cost $150,000 or more.
- Thoroughbred Fusaichi Pegasus was reportedly sold for about $70 million in 2000.
As of October 2026, the Arabian is the most expensive horse breed on our list, with well-bred horses selling for up to $150,000 and top mares fetching far more at auction. The Oldenburg and Akhal-Teke follow. Prices depend more on bloodline, training and competition record than on breed alone.
A family horse of any of these breeds can cost a few thousand dollars, while a proven competitor can cost many times more. The single most expensive horses are usually racing Thoroughbreds. Fusaichi Pegasus, winner of the 2000 Kentucky Derby, was reportedly sold to Coolmore as a stallion for about $70 million that year.
Price ranges below come from equine price guides such as Equine Helper. Record sales are taken from auction reports. Running costs such as feed, stabling, farrier and vet bills are not included and can add several thousand dollars a year.
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| Rank | Breed | Typical price | Top price or notable sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arabian | $1,000 to $150,000 | Pepita, €1.4 million (2015) |
| 2 | Oldenburg | $10,000 to $150,000+ | Top sport horses above $150,000 |
| 3 | Akhal-Teke | $10,000 to $100,000 | Top horses about $100,000 |
| 4 | Andalusian | $5,000 to $60,000+ | Show horses $60,000+ |
| 5 | Friesian | $5,000 to $60,000+ | Trained competitors $40,000 to $60,000+ |
| 6 | Holsteiner | $10,000 to $30,000+ | Proven jumpers much higher |
| 7 | Gypsy Vanner | $10,000 to $30,000+ | Many sell for $30,000+ |
| 8 | Trakehner | $5,000 to $20,000+ | Kattenau, €270,000 (2018) |
| 9 | Shire | A few thousand to $15,000 | Well-trained horses $10,000 to $15,000 |
| 10 | Standardbred | From a few thousand dollars | Maverick, $1.1 million (2019) |
1. Arabian: up to $150,000
The Arabian is one of the oldest horse breeds and is known for its dished face, high tail carriage and stamina. Ordinary Arabians can cost as little as $1,000 to $3,000, but horses from top show and breeding lines sell for up to $150,000. The breed also dominates endurance riding, which adds to demand for horses with proven race records.
Prices at elite auctions go much higher. The Polish mare Pepita sold for €1.4 million at the Pride of Poland auction in 2015, according to Arabian Horse World.
2. Oldenburg: up to $150,000+
The Oldenburg is a German warmblood bred mainly for dressage and show jumping. A young or average horse costs about $10,000 to $15,000.
Horses competing at international level often sell for $150,000 or more. Breeders’ auctions in Vechta regularly attract buyers from Europe, the US and Asia.
3. Akhal-Teke: up to $100,000
The Akhal-Teke comes from Turkmenistan and is famous for its metallic coat. It is rare, with only a few thousand purebred horses worldwide, which keeps prices high.
In the US an Akhal-Teke usually costs at least $10,000. Top competitors sell for over $40,000, and the best horses can reach about $100,000 internationally.
4. Andalusian: up to $60,000+
The Andalusian, or Pura Raza Española, comes from Spain and is used in classical dressage and display riding. Prices start at around $5,000 for a pleasure horse.
Show-quality Andalusians with strong bloodlines sell for $60,000 or more, and imported horses from leading Spanish studs cost more again.
5. Friesian: up to $60,000+
The Friesian is a black horse from the Netherlands with a long mane and feathered legs. It is popular for dressage, driving and film work.
A Friesian kept as a pleasure horse costs about $5,000 to $10,000. A well-trained competition horse typically costs $40,000 to $60,000 or more.
6. Holsteiner: up to $30,000+
The Holsteiner is a German warmblood from Schleswig-Holstein, known for show jumping. It is one of the oldest warmblood breeds.
Most Holsteiners sell for $10,000 to $30,000, depending on bloodline and career prospects. Horses with proven international jumping results cost considerably more.
7. Gypsy Vanner: up to $30,000+
The Gypsy Vanner was bred by Romani travellers in Britain and Ireland to pull caravans. It is known for its heavy feathering and calm temperament.
A Gypsy Vanner costs at least $10,000, and many sell for $30,000 or more, partly because the breed is still relatively rare outside the UK and Ireland.
8. Trakehner: up to $20,000+
The Trakehner originated in East Prussia and is the lightest of the German warmbloods. A riding horse may cost $5,000 to $7,500, while a trained show horse costs $20,000 or more.
Licensed stallions can sell for much higher prices. Kattenau, champion of the 2018 Trakehner Stallion Licensing in Neumünster, sold for €270,000, according to Eurodressage.
9. Shire: up to $15,000
The Shire is a British draught horse and one of the largest breeds, with many horses standing over 17 hands. It was once used for farm work and hauling.
A Shire can cost just a few thousand dollars, but a well-trained horse usually costs $10,000 to $15,000. Their size also makes feed and farrier costs higher.
10. Standardbred: up to $1.1 million at auction
The Standardbred is the American harness racing breed, used for trotting and pacing. Retired racehorses can be bought for a few thousand dollars.
Racing prospects are a different market. The trotting colt Maverick sold for $1.1 million at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale in 2019, one of the highest prices for a Standardbred yearling.
How we ranked these
We ranked the breeds by the price usually paid for well-bred, well-trained horses, using published price guides. Record auction prices are shown for context but do not decide the rank, as one-off sales can distort the picture. Thoroughbreds are left out because racehorse prices depend almost entirely on race results. For pets with similar price swings, see our list of the most expensive dog breeds in the world.
Sources: Equine Helper, Arabian Horse World, Eurodressage, Nevele R Stud.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most expensive horse breed?
The Arabian is generally the most expensive breed, with well-bred show and breeding horses selling for up to $150,000. At elite auctions prices go far higher: the mare Pepita sold for €1.4 million at the Pride of Poland auction in 2015.
What is the most expensive horse ever sold?
The racehorse Fusaichi Pegasus, winner of the 2000 Kentucky Derby, is widely reported as the most expensive horse ever sold. Coolmore Stud reportedly paid about $70 million for him as a breeding stallion in 2000, although the exact figure was not officially confirmed.
How much does an Akhal-Teke horse cost?
An Akhal-Teke usually costs at least $10,000 in the US. Horses with competition potential sell for over $40,000, and the best horses can reach about $100,000 internationally. The breed is rare, with only a few thousand purebred animals worldwide.
How much does a Friesian horse cost?
A Friesian kept as a pleasure or family horse typically costs $5,000 to $10,000. A well-trained Friesian ready for dressage or driving competitions usually costs $40,000 to $60,000 or more, depending on bloodline, age and training.
Why are some horse breeds so expensive?
Prices depend on rarity, bloodline, training and competition record. Rare breeds such as the Akhal-Teke have small populations, while warmbloods such as the Oldenburg are bred for top-level sport. Horses with proven results or valuable breeding lines can sell for many times the average.
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