What is the history of the Nez Perce people and the horse?
Nez Perce tradition says that they first saw the horse among their close relatives and allies, the Cayuses. The horse had reached the Nez Perces by about 1730. The horse brought many changes to the Nez Perces. The people could now travel farther and for longer periods of time, transporting more supplies, trade goods, and provisions, as well as longer tipi poles for larger and roomier portable lodges. They were able to reach and intensify their use of more distant and less accessible fishing, gathering, and hunting sites, and their hunts in the rugged plateau country became easier and more extended and successful. Their increased ability at collecting food supplies gave them more leisure time, which allowed more time for travel. As they extended their horizons and increased their trade, they acquired. more goods from other peoples, as well as many new ideas and elements of material culture that influenced and altered their lives. Their increased contact with more westerly tribes brought
