(picture above is a Narragansett Pacer horse) 

The Narragansett Pacer was the first developed in the United States but is now extinct. It was developed in the United States during the 18th century and associated closely with the state of, and it had become extinct by the late 19th century. 

The Pacer was developed from a mix of English and, although the exact cross is unknown, and they were known to and owned by many famous personages of the day, including. Sales to the Caribbean and cross-breeding diminished the breed to the point of extinction, and the last known Pacer died around 1880.

The Narragansett was possibly a horse, rather than a true breed. It was known as a sure-footed, dependable breed, although not flashy or always good-looking. 

Pacers were used for racing and general riding. They were frequently crossed with other breeds and provided the foundation for several other American breeds, including the American Saddlebred, StandardBred, and the Tennessee Walking Horse.

 Highly valued by plantation owners of the 19th century, the Narragansett Pacer had a major influence on many American breeds. The breed was especially associated with the state of Rhode Island in the early 18th century but had become extinct by the late 19th century. It was known as the first breed of horse developed in America.

The exact origins of the breed are unknown, but it was probably developed from a cross between English "ambling" horses and. These Spanish breeds often included bloodlines that included. The horses developed from this cross were known for their smoothness and sure-footedness over poor terrain. 

The English horses which contributed to the Narragansett Pacer may have been members of the breed; another possible ancestor is the. In the early 18th century, William Robinson, the of Rhode Island, began the serious development of the breed with a stallion named "Old Snip"—speculated to be either an Irish Hobby breed and considered or an Andalusian, and considered the father of the breed. 

In 1768, owned and raced a Narragansett Pacer, while in 1772, asked an American friend for a pair. possibly rode a Pacer during his to warn the Americans of a British march. The extinction was due mainly to the breed being sold in such large numbers to planters in that breeding stock was severely diminished in the United States. 

The few horses that were left were crossbred to create and improve other breeds and the pure strain of the Narragansett soon became extinct. was also noted to have breeders of the Narragansett, with the breeding stock having been brought to the area as early as 1790 by early pioneers. The last known Pacer, died around 1880.

The Narragansett Pacer was not exclusively a pacing horse, as strong evidence indicates it exhibited a gait, which is a four-beat, intermediate-speed gait, while the pace is a two-beat, intermediate-speed gait. The amble is more comfortable to ride than the pace, and Narragansett Pacers were known for their qualities as both riding and driving horses. 

They averaged around 14.1 (57 inches, 145 cm) tall, and were generally in color. described them as: "They have handsome foreheads, the head clean, the neck long, the arms and legs thin and tapered."; however, another source stated, "The hindquarters are narrow and the hocks a little crooked...", but also said, "They are very spirited and carry both the head and tail high. 

But what is more remarkable is that they amble with more speed than most horses trot, so that it is difficult to put some of them upon a gallop." Other viewers of the breed rarely called them stylish or good-looking, although they considered them dependable, easy to work with and sure-footed.

The breed was used for "pacing races" in Rhode Island, where the population allowed races when the greater part of New England did not. Pacers reportedly covered the one-mile tracks in a little more than two minutes.

The Narragansett Pacer played a significant role in the creation of the and. The breed was also combined with French pacers to create them, a breed especially suited to racing over ice and which also contributed substantially to the creation of the Standardbred. In the early 19th century, Pacer mares were bred to of the fledgling breed.

 However, the Morgan breed was selected for an as an intermediate gait, and thus ambling horses were frowned upon, so most Narragansett/Morgan crosses were sold to Canada, the Caribbean, and South America, so the bloodlines did not remain within the Morgan breed. Other breeds indirectly influenced by the Narragansett Pacer include the, a gaited breed started in, and the, a gaited breed with patterning.