The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released Changes in the U.S. Equine Industry, 1998-2015, the second report from its Equine 2015 study.

Produced by APHIS’ National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), this report examines trends in the equine industry during the last 18 years and provides Census of Agriculture data on demographic changes in the industry from 1850 to 2012.

Equine 2015 marks the third time that NAHMS has conducted a national study on the U.S. equine industry. As with NAHMS’ 1998 and 2005 equine studies, Equine 2015 was designed to provide participants, industry, and animal-health officials with information on the nation’s equine population that will serve as a basis for education, service, and research. The study provides information representing 71.6% of U.S. equids and 70.9% of U.S. operations with five or more equids.

A few highlights from the Changes in the U.S