1521 – 1700: The Origins of Ranching in Florida
In 1521, during his second expedition to the New World, Juan Ponce de León introduced a small herd of cattle and Andalusian horses to Florida, landing near present-day Fort Myers. These animals were the first cattle and horses to set foot on what is now the continental United States. However, the Spanish explorers were soon driven back to their ships by the fierce Calusa warriors, and Ponce de León was fatally wounded. The fate of the livestock remains unknown, but it’s likely that they became the first cattle and horses to roam wild in Florida.
Nearly two decades later, in 1540, Don Diego Maldonado brought a larger herd of Spanish cattle and horses to the Pensacola Bay area, intending to supply the Hernando de Soto expedition. Unable to locate the conquistadors, Maldonado reportedly left many of the animals behind. Some were released into the forests of North Florida, while others were given to the Native Americans, further contributing to the region’s growing population of wild cattle.
In 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the United States, and began importing cattle from Spain to feed the garrison. Shortly thereafter, ranching in Florida took root when Jesuit and Franciscan friars established missions across North and North Central Florida. Their primary goal was to convert Native Americans to Christianity, but they also trained them to tend livestock and cultivate crops. These missions became home to some of North America’s first established ranches—predating the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.
By 1618, Florida’s Spanish governors actively expanded cattle production on local ranchos. Spanish herds, along with those owned by Native Americans and the many cattle roaming freely, thrived on Florida’s vast prairies and rangelands. Spanish cattlemen soon began exporting cattle to Cuba, the largest trade hub in the region, marking the birth of the first major industry in the New World. This trade with Cuba flourished for the next 300 years.
By 1700, Florida boasted over 30 privately owned ranchos with an estimated 20,000 cattle. This figure did not include the mission herds, livestock owned by Native American chiefs, or the wild cattle that continued to roam the state’s expansive wilderness. Florida had firmly established itself as the cradle of ranching in North America, a legacy that would shape the region’s history for centuries to come.
1700-1900
In the early 1700s, Britain, France, and Spain fiercely competed for control of the Florida peninsula. James Moore, the British Governor of South Carolina, led a raid into Florida, seizing thousands of cattle and horses to sell to settlers in Carolina and Georgia. Such raids persisted for many years, marking a turbulent era in Florida’s history.
By the early 1800s, individuals like Andrew Jackson purchased cattle from Florida’s Native Americans, driving them to states like Tennessee and Kentucky to crossbreed with European herds. Over time, interactions between the British, Spanish, and French in Florida were characterized by a cycle of alliances, conflicts, and trade. Eventually, the Spanish and French influence waned, but their legacy endured. Spanish occupation left an indelible mark, seen today in the bloodlines of Florida’s livestock and the names of its landmarks.
During the Civil War, Florida became the primary supplier of beef for troops on both sides of the conflict. Sturdy Spanish horses were especially prized for their ability to navigate Florida’s challenging terrain, where other breeds failed.
After the war, Florida quickly rebuilt its economy, becoming one of the first states to recover. Pioneer families played a critical role, bolstering the state’s finances by exporting cattle to Cuba. These cowmen, financially devastated by worthless Confederate currency, demanded payment in gold coins. As a result, millions of Spanish gold doubloons flowed into Florida’s post-war economy, fueling growth. Thousands of “Cracker” cattle were shipped from ports in Tampa, Manatee, and Punta Rassa, creating a thriving trade between Florida and Cuba. Prominent families such as the Roberts, Carltons, Lykes, Summerlins, McKays, Hendrys, Aldermans, and Wells were instrumental in this enterprise.
Historical records reveal that between 1868 and 1878 alone, 1.6 million cattle were shipped to destinations like Cuba, Nassau, and Key West—most notably Havana. At that time, Florida was America’s leading cattle exporter. This financial boom laid the foundation for Florida’s expansive agricultural economy, which relied heavily on cattle and horses to sustain its operations.
Toward the late 19th century, purebred beef and dairy breeds of Northern European origin began arriving in Florida. These imported cattle were crossbred with the existing Spanish herds, significantly altering the genetic makeup of Florida’s livestock and paving the way for modern cattle farming in the region.
1900 to Present
Before the 1940s, cattle roamed freely across Florida’s vast scrublands, giving rise to the unique term “Cowhunters” for Florida’s cowboys. These cowhunters would traverse the state, rounding up their herds whenever necessary. They also inspired the name “Cracker cattle,” derived from the cracking sound of their whips as they managed their livestock.
This open-range practice came to an end in 1949 when Governor Fuller Warren signed Florida’s first statewide fence law. This legislation required livestock owners to keep their animals off public roadways, marking a shift in ranching practices across the state. The introduction of the Florida Fence Law led to improved animal husbandry methods, paving the way for new cattle breeds better suited to Florida’s challenging conditions.
Crossbreeding became a popular practice, particularly with the resilient Florida Cracker cattle and Brahman breeds, which produced larger animals capable of yielding more beef. However, this trend nearly drove the pure Florida Cracker cattle to extinction. By the late 1960s, only a few purebred Cracker cattle remained, scattered across the ranches of families who had stubbornly preserved their heritage stock.
Recognizing the importance of preserving this historic breed, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Doyle Conner Sr. called on the Florida Cattlemen’s Association in the 1960s to take action. In 1970, Zona Bass and Zetta Hunt, daughters of pioneering cattleman James Durrance, donated five heifers and a bull—believed to be some of the purest Cracker cattle—to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). This small herd, known as the “Durrance Line,” became the cornerstone of the state’s efforts to save the breed.
The department established and grew the herd at the Agricultural Complex in Tallahassee, later creating a second herd at Withlacoochee State Forest near Brooksville. Additional herds were developed by the Florida Department of Natural Resources (now the Florida Department of Environmental Protection) at Lake Kissimmee State Park and the Paynes Prairie State Preserve. The Lake Kissimmee herd included animals from the Durrance line and cattle from the Hal Chaires family, while the Paynes Prairie herd combined cows from Woody Tilton’s herd and transfers from Lake Kissimmee. These efforts were bolstered by a few private ranchers who maintained small, purebred Cracker cattle herds. To prevent inbreeding, the department occasionally introduced Durrance-line cattle from other Cracker herds to diversify the genetic pool.
Preservation efforts extended beyond cattle. In 1984, the family of John Law Ayers donated a herd of Cracker horses to the FDACS. Ayers had fiercely protected his herd’s purity, resisting the temptation to crossbreed. His donation enabled the establishment of Cracker horse herds in Tallahassee and the Withlacoochee State Forest. Families such as the Ayers, Bronsons, Boals, Partins, and Sassers also maintained small herds of Cracker horses, ensuring the survival of this historic breed.
Through diligent efforts by state agencies and dedicated ranching families, both Florida Cracker cattle and horses—symbols of Florida’s ranching heritage—continue to thrive as living links to the state’s agricultural past.
In 1985, efforts began to focus on refining the FDACS herds. A rigorous selection and screening program was introduced, ensuring that only cattle meeting strict breed standards remained, while others were culled. Today, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) proudly maintains both the Durrance line of Cracker cattle and the Ayers line of Cracker horses. To preserve genetic diversity while maintaining pure bloodlines, breeding stock is exchanged between herds and made available to the public through annual sales hosted in partnership with the Florida Cracker Cattle Association (FCCA).
In 1988, the FCCA and the Florida Cracker Horse Association (FCHA) were established through the department’s efforts. These associations developed breed standards and appointed evaluation committees to identify and register foundation stock, ensuring the preservation of these historic breeds.
Since 1989, the FCCA and FDACS have hosted the annual Florida Cracker Cattle Association Gathering and Auction at the Withlacoochee State Forest. This event offers interested individuals the opportunity to purchase Cracker cattle and horses, contributing to the ongoing preservation of these breeds.
Both Florida Cracker cattle and horses are officially recognized as “heritage breeds” by the State, serving as invaluable living links to Florida’s history and culture. However, their appeal goes beyond their historical significance. Florida Cracker cattle are increasingly sought after for their genetic traits, which include hardiness, adaptability, fertility, and resistance to insects and diseases. These qualities, combined with their longevity and versatility, make them an asset to modern livestock farming. Meanwhile, Florida Cracker horses continue to enjoy widespread popularity for their trainability and suitability across various riding disciplines.
To learn more about the unique traits of Florida Cracker Cattle & Horses, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture’s characteristics of Cracker cattle.
