Kyrgyzstan is difficult to pronounce and tricky to get to — but, generally, the people of this landlocked country in Central Asia are welcoming. Especially those you meet when trekking around the mountains on their Chaar Appaloosas.

Your average horse lover has always associated the Appaloosa with the Americas. Understandably so because of all the documentaries about the Nez Perce tribes and all the westerns with Marlon Brando, Viggo Mortensen and other Hollywood actors.

And let’s not forget ‘Pay N Go’ the spotted grand prix gelding from Texas commissioned by Paul McCartney to perform inside a Manhattan church during a memorial service for his wife. Linda had loved the American Appy, descendants of those that had been imported by Spanish settlers in the 1500s.