Five major groups were formed following bloodtyping. Dr Sponenberg identified renowned horse breeders that were expected to continue the line of the Wilbur-Cruce horse. The largest group went to California, one group to New Mexico, two groups to Oklahoma, and one to central Arizona. None remained near the ranch in southern Arizona. It was more important at that time to find breeders who were truly dedicated to preserving the herd than to keep the horses in their original environment (southern Arizona). The New Mexico group was in an environment similar to that of the Wilbur-Cruce Ranch.

I read an article on the Wilbur-Cruce horse in March of 1997, written by Janie Dobrott and Jean Walsh, published in the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy newsletter. In this article the need for breeders, especially in southwestern United States was stressed. The director of Drylands Institute and myself went to see the first group in New Mexico. It was decided to start a small breeding program at the site of Drylands Institute with the goal of promoting the Wilbur-Cruce horse and to encourage other breeders to start programs. This program has been successful in its beginning stages. The Dragoon Mountain Ranch, not far from the original Wilbur-Cruce ranch, started a program with eight mares and one stallion. The size of the ranch allows the horses to be in a natural setting. Those horses are some of the original foundation mares and stallions. The group was on lease. Foals from that breeding group and an unrelated Wilbur-Cruce stallion will form the Dragoon Mountain Ranch breeding group.

We are really happy to see them back in southern Arizona. We now have breeding groups in Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nebraska and Colorado as of 2005.