Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' & Exhibitors' Assocation

What Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' & Exhibitors' Assocation does

The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA) is a 501(c)(5) agricultural non-profit founded on May 11, 1935, and headquartered in Lewisburg, Tennessee. It is the only breed registry for Tennessee Walking Horses recognized by the US Department of Agriculture, a status granted in 1950, and operates as the authoritative custodian of breed purity, pedigree, and parentage documentation. The organization serves horse breeders, owners, exhibitors, trail and recreational riders, youth members, and an international member base spanning the US, Australia, Canada, and Europe.

The core platform is iPeds (Internet Pedigree System), a members-only online registry launched in 1996 that catalogs 548,471 registered Tennessee Walking Horses worldwide. iPeds offers basic search for members and a premium subscription tier providing complete pedigrees, production records, owner history, DNA and blood-typing information, and detailed show records. Complementary products and programs include foal registration with mandatory DNA parentage verification, transfer of ownership processing, gelding registration, The Voice official magazine (with archives dating to 1962-1969), the Walking Horse Mercantile e-commerce store (launched 2021, Shopify-powered), the TWHBEA World Versatility Championship (presented by Manna Pro), Trails, Futurity, Go! Gelding, Motivated Mares, and Certified Instructor programs, plus the Tennessee Walking Horse Youth Association with medallion and scholarship offerings.

TWHBEA's business model combines transaction-based revenue (horse registrations and transfers), recurring subscription revenue (annual memberships and iPeds premium access), merchandise sales via e-commerce, and event-driven sponsorship. Go-to-market is community-led: the organization relies on word-of-mouth within the breed community, youth programs, The Voice magazine, social media (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube), email, and participation in horse shows. Governance is via a 13-person Executive Committee drawn from an International Board of Directors, with no venture capital, private equity, or parent-company ownership.

Name

Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' & Exhibitors' Assocation

Legal name

Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association

Website

https://twhbea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA) is the only USDA-recognized breed registry for Tennessee Walking Horses, founded in 1935 and headquartered in Lewisburg, Tennessee. It serves breeders, owners, exhibitors, youth, and international members through pedigree registration, the iPeds database of 548,471 horses, events, and a branded e-commerce store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine Breed Registry

NAICS

Horses and Other Equine Production (11292), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Horse Breeding & Stud Farms (AFAEAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Equine Veterinary Services (AFAEANAC)

Keywords

• Equine breed registry
• Horse pedigree services
• Horse breed association
• Membership organization
• Equine registration

Headquarters

HQ city

Lewisburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Horse Registration Services: Revenue from registering Tennessee Walking Horses, including foal registration, transfer of ownership, and gelding registration. TWHBEA is the official and only breed registry recognized by the USDA.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to registry services, iPeds basic access, The Voice magazine subscription, and other member benefits.
3. Walking Horse Mercantile E-commerce: Online retail store selling apparel, books, home decor, drinkware, toys, and collectibles related to the Tennessee Walking Horse breed.
4. Premium iPeds Subscription: Subscription-based premium access to complete pedigrees, production records, owner history, DNA and blood-typing information, and detailed show records.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TWHBEA is the official breed registry and membership association for the Tennessee Walking Horse, providing pedigree registration, ownership transfers, and breed verification records through its proprietary iPeds Internet Pedigree System. The organization also offers supporting services such as the Walking Horse Mercantile e-commerce store, "The Voice" publication, youth programs, the World Versatility Championship, and a Trails Program, serving individual horse owners, breeders, and exhibitors.

Product overview

TWHBEA operates as a breed registry and membership organization for Tennessee Walking Horses. The core offerings include the iPeds Internet Pedigree System (a members-only database of over 548,000 registered horses), horse registration services with DNA/parentage verification, and annual membership benefits. The association also operates Walking Horse Mercantile, an e-commerce retail store selling branded merchandise including apparel, books, collectible trading cards, home decor, and children's items. Additional programs include the World Versatility Championship, Trails Program, and Youth Association with medallion recognition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Walking Horse Mercantile: The official online store of TWHBEA selling merchandise, books, apparel, and horse-related products.
• iPeds
• The Voice
• TWHBEA World Versatility Championship

Products and services

• iPeds Internet Pedigree System Proprietary online database system that provides official pedigree records, ownership history, and breed verification for Tennessee Walking Horses. It is offered to individual horse owners, breeders, and exhibitors as the central registry platform, with premium subscription tiers available for enhanced access.
• TWHBEA Membership Annual membership program for individual horse owners, breeders, and exhibitors of Tennessee Walking Horses, providing access to member services, registration privileges, and breed community participation.
• Walking Horse Mercantile Online e-commerce store that sells branded TWHBEA merchandise and apparel to members and breed enthusiasts.
• The Voice Magazine Official periodical publication of TWHBEA that covers breed news, events, and member information for the Tennessee Walking Horse community.
• World Versatility Championship Breed-recognized competitive event program that recognizes Tennessee Walking Horses competing across multiple disciplines, open to members and exhibitors of the breed.
• Youth Association Program Youth program that engages young members of the Tennessee Walking Horse community through breed education, activities, and youth-specific events.
• Trails Program Recreational program that supports trail riding and promotes the Tennessee Walking Horse as a pleasure and trail mount among members and enthusiasts.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CoopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner displayed on TWHBEA website homepage with logo placement. No specific partnership details provided.
• Thor Sport FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner displayed on TWHBEA website homepage with logo placement. No specific partnership details provided.
• Animate Equine EquipmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner displayed on TWHBEA website homepage with logo placement. No specific partnership details provided.
• USLGEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner displayed on TWHBEA website homepage with logo placement. No specific partnership details provided.
• RideTVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner displayed on TWHBEA website homepage with logo placement. RideTV is a television network that may broadcast Tennessee Walking Horse events.
• Farm PaintminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner displayed on TWHBEA website homepage with logo placement. No specific partnership details provided.
• Western Dressage Association (WDAA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner displayed on TWHBEA website homepage with logo placement. WDAA promotes Western dressage discipline which may incorporate Tennessee Walking Horses.
• WALKnSTYLEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner displayed on TWHBEA website homepage with logo placement. No specific partnership details provided.
• First National BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvertiser displayed on TWHBEA website homepage. Partner with ad placement on the site.
• Manna ProcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerManna Pro is the presenting sponsor of the TWHBEA World Versatility Championship. They offer special awards and incentives for the competition, indicating a significant marketing partnership.
• Grey Horse Candle CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupplier of soy candles sold through the Walking Horse Mercantile store. Products include Fresh Cut Hay, Cedar Shavings, and Sweet Feed themed candles.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• US Equestrian Federation: The national governing body for equestrian sports in the United States, overseeing multiple breeds and disciplines. Comparable as a broader equestrian organization that interacts with TWHBEA members and provides complementary governance and competition services.
• American Horse Council: National trade association representing the equine industry in Washington, D.C., advocating for horse-related legislation and policy. Comparable as a broader equine industry advocacy organization that intersects with TWHBEA's regulatory and welfare interests.

Direct peers

• American Quarter Horse Association: The largest breed registry in the world for American Quarter Horses, providing registration services, performance programs, and youth activities. It is the most directly comparable breed registry to TWHBEA in terms of structure, membership model, and service offerings.
• American Morgan Horse Association: Breed registry for Morgan Horses providing registration, performance programs, and youth activities. Comparable in scale and structure to TWHBEA as a single-breed registry organization with similar membership and event-based revenue models.
• The Jockey Club: The breed registry for Thoroughbred horses in North America, maintaining pedigrees, DNA-typing, and registration services. Comparable as a premier breed registry with regulatory authority and data assets over its respective breed.
• Appaloosa Horse Club: Breed registry for Appaloosa horses, providing registration, DNA testing, performance records, and youth programs. Comparable in terms of registry structure, membership model, and proprietary database systems.
• American Paint Horse Association: Breed registry for American Paint Horses offering registration, performance tracking, and youth programs. Operates a similar membership-based model with show records, DNA testing, and proprietary database—directly comparable to TWHBEA's iPeds system.
• American Saddlebred Horse Association: Breed registry for the American Saddlebred horse, offering registration services, show programs, and youth development. Directly comparable as a single-breed registry with similar revenue streams and community-led governance.

Others

• Equine Disease Communication Center: Industry-supported platform providing disease tracking and communication for the equine community. Comparable as an equine-focused digital platform serving similar stakeholder communities, though focused on health rather than breed registry.

Regional players

• Walking Horse Trainers Association: Industry organization specifically for Tennessee Walking Horse trainers, closely aligned with TWHBEA's mission but focused on the training and performance community. Directly comparable as a breed-specific industry organization with overlapping stakeholder base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TWHBEA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNeDy_701h8Bi0ujzHApmUQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Tennessee-Walking-Horse-Breeders-Exhibitors-Association-185845211426363
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tennessee-walking-horse-breeders'%E2%80%8B-and-exhibitors'%E2%80%8B-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' & Exhibitors' Assocation