The purpose of the Foundation Quarter Horse Registry is to preserve, protect, and perpetuate the working cow horse bloodlines of the Foundation Quarter Horse by the individuals that the FQHR deems as Foundation bred. The Registry is based on blood pedigree example.
Therefore the Foundation Quarter Horse Registry recognizes those horses listed in the first five studbooks (first 27,000 horses registered) as Foundation bred. Most individuals carrying 75% Foundation blood are eligible for registration.