There are thousands of Horse Associations around the world. There are associations that for special breeds such as AQHA or the American Quarter Horse Association, TWHBEA or the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association, APHA the American Paint Horse Association, just to name a few. Most of the associations require a membership fee that is generally paid yearly. In return for your membership you will usually receive a discount on transfer and registration fees as well as newletters or magazines from the association. Many of these associations also have registered shows just for that breed that members also may participate in. When looking for a horse for sale it may be beneficial to reasearch the associations representing breeds that you may be interested in.
There are also associations for horse owners and horse lovers to become involved with. There is the NBHA which is the National Barrel Horse Assocaition, the CMSA which is the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Assocation, ACTHA which is the American Competitive Trail Horse Association plus thousands of other to become a part of. There are also many assocations on the local level such as 4H, saddle clubs and trail riding associations.
How ever you are involved in the horse world, whether it be by buying a horse and becoming a horse owner, breeding horses, showing horses or just by simply being a horse lover, there are many horse associations in which you may become a part of. You will find that by becoming involved in horse associations that it is a wonderful way to meet other horse lovers just like yourself.