Developed on the Barbary Coast of North Africa, the Barb (le cheval barbe) is a desert horse with great hardiness and a fiery temperament. It has a powerful front end, high withers, short back, a sloping, narrow croup, and carries its tail low. It is hardy, with clean legs, and small, round, sound hooves. It does not have particularly good gaits, but gallops like a sprinter.

It usually is gray, but bay, black, chestnut, and brown horses are also found. The Barb stands 13.3-14.1 hands high.

Barbs are featured mounts at Antoine de Pluvinel’s Académie d’Équitation in Paris.