“A registry is only as strong as the records it protects and the guidelines it upholds.”

SSMA Guidelines & Rules

Please review the following guidelines and rules regarding SSMA membership, registration eligibility, transfers, and registry procedures. These guidelines are provided to help applicants understand the requirements of the Southwest Spanish Mustang Association.

Purpose & Authority of the Registry

The Southwest Spanish Mustang Association (“SSMA”) maintains an official breed registry for the preservation, documentation, and promotion of the Southwest Spanish Mustang horse.

The goals of the registry include:

  • Maintaining accurate and reliable pedigree records
  • Preserving the historical integrity of the breed
  • Supporting responsible breeding practices
  • Protecting the integrity and reputation of the Association and its registry
  • Maintaining modern and secure registry procedures while remaining accessible to members utilizing either electronic or traditional paper-based submissions

Section 2 — Authority of SSMA

SSMA reserves the authority to establish, interpret, enforce, and amend registry requirements, procedures, standards, and policies as necessary to maintain the integrity and operation of the registry.

The SSMA Board of Directors retains final authority regarding:

  • Registry disputes
  • Membership disciplinary actions
  • Registration appeals
  • Pedigree disputes
  • Exceptions to standard procedures
  • Registry integrity matters

Section 1 — Membership Standing

Any individual submitting registrations, transfers, ownership updates, or other official registry actions must be a current SSMA member in good standing unless otherwise approved by the Board of Directors.

For partnership ownerships, all listed owners must be current SSMA members in good standing.

Section 2 — Member Responsibility

Members are responsible for:

  • Maintaining accurate contact information
  • Providing truthful and complete applications
  • Reporting ownership changes
  • Reporting status changes affecting registry records
  • Maintaining compliance with SSMA rules and policies

Failure to provide accurate or updated information may result in delayed processing, denial of applications, or disciplinary action.

Section 1 — Parentage Requirements

A horse is eligible for registration if:

  1. The horse is out of an SSMA-registered dam and sired by an SSMA-registered sire, as recorded within official SSMA records.
  2. The horse meets all current SSMA registration requirements.
  3. The breeder and/or owner is a current SSMA member in good standing.

Section 2 — Previously Registered Horses

Horses previously registered with other registries may be submitted for SSMA registration consideration.

Applications must include:

  • Horse name
  • Registration number
  • Name of issuing registry
  • Copies of registration documentation

SSMA reserves the right to review outside registry information and determine eligibility for SSMA registration.

Section 1 — Required Registration Materials

To register a horse, applicants must submit:

  1. A completed SSMA registration application containing all required information.
  2. Applicable registration fees as established by the SSMA Board of Directors.
  3. Current color photographs meeting SSMA submission standards.
  4. Any additional documentation or verification materials requested by SSMA.

Section 2 — Required Identification Information

Applications may require information including but not limited to:

  • Owner name and contact information
  • Breeder name and contact information
  • Horse name choices
  • Foaling date
  • Sex
  • Coat color
  • Mane and tail color
  • Eye color
  • Hoof color
  • Markings
  • Scars or identifying characteristics
  • Sire information
  • Dam information

Section 3 — Submission Methods

Applications and supporting materials may be submitted through:

  • Approved online systems
  • Electronic upload
  • Member portal systems
  • USPS mail
  • Other submission methods approved by SSMA

Electronic submissions and uploaded records shall constitute official registry submissions.

Section 4 — Electronic Signatures & Digital Authority

SSMA may accept:

  • Electronic signatures
  • Uploaded documentation
  • Digital forms
  • Scanned documents
  • Electronic communications
  • Online submissions

as official registry records and documentation.

Section 1 — Required Photos

Applicants must provide current color photographs clearly showing the horse from required views as established by SSMA Photo & Video Submission Standards.

Required views may include:

  • Left side
  • Right side
  • Front
  • Rear

Photographs must clearly display:

  • Markings
  • Legs
  • Hooves
  • Face
  • Body characteristics

Section 2 — Video Verification

SSMA may require video verification for registration, transfer, correction, ownership verification, or registry investigations.

Video standards and requirements may be established separately by SSMA policy.

Section 3 — Submission Standards

SSMA may establish and publish official Photo & Video Submission Standards which applicants must follow.

Standards may address:

  • Image quality
  • File formats
  • Video standards
  • Lighting requirements
  • Acceptable editing limitations
  • Required views
  • Upload methods
  • Other identification requirements

Section 1 — False Information Prohibited

Submission of false, misleading, altered, manipulated, or fraudulent information or materials to SSMA is prohibited.

This includes but is not limited to:

  • False ownership claims
  • Falsified applications
  • Altered pedigree information
  • Manipulated documents
  • Misrepresentation of horses
  • Fraudulent transfers

Section 2 — Artificial Intelligence & Altered Media

The use of AI-generated, digitally manipulated, altered, or deceptive photographs, videos, or other media is prohibited.

Section 3 — Investigation Authority

SSMA reserves the right to:

  • Investigate applications
  • Request additional verification
  • Delay processing
  • Deny applications
  • Suspend registrations
  • Revoke registrations
  • Require additional documentation

when necessary to protect registry integrity.

ARTICLE VII — ADDITIONAL VERIFICATION AUTHORITY

SSMA reserves the right to require additional verification for any registry action.

Verification may include:

  • Additional photographs
  • Video verification
  • Veterinary statements
  • Ownership records
  • Breeding documentation
  • Inspection
  • DNA testing or typing
  • Parentage verification
  • Other supporting documentation

Failure to provide requested verification may result in delay, denial, suspension, or revocation of registry actions.

ARTICLE XIV — INSPECTIONS & VERIFICATION

SSMA may require:

  • Physical inspection
  • Video verification
  • Veterinary confirmation
  • DNA testing or typing
  • Parentage verification
  • Additional supporting documentation

for any horse submitted for registration or record correction.

ARTICLE XV — DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Any individual found to have:

  • Submitted false information
  • Attempted fraud
  • Misrepresented a horse
  • Submitted manipulated materials
  • Violated registry integrity
  • Acted detrimentally toward SSMA

may be subject to disciplinary action.

Possible actions include:

  • Denial of applications
  • Revocation of registration
  • Suspension of privileges
  • Membership termination
  • Refusal of future applications
  • Legal action
  • Other Board-approved actions

Section 1 — Official Certificates

All approved registrations shall receive an official SSMA Certificate of Registration.

Certificates may be issued in:

  • Digital format
  • Printed format
  • Both formats

as determined by SSMA procedures.

Section 2 — Printed Certificates

Printed certificates may require an additional fee established by the Board of Directors.

Section 3 — Certificate Integrity

Any unauthorized alteration, duplication, reproduction, or modification of a Certificate of Registration shall render the certificate void.

Corrections or amendments are valid only when issued or approved by the Registrar and recorded within official SSMA records.

ARTICLE IX — TRANSFERS & OWNERSHIP CHANGES

Section 1 — Transfer Requirements

Ownership transfers must be submitted using approved SSMA forms and procedures.

Applicable transfer fees must accompany the submission along with the original certificate of registration.

Section 2 — Ownership Verification

SSMA may require documentation supporting ownership transfer, including:

  • Bills of sale
  • Signatures
  • Supporting ownership records
  • Additional verification materials

Section 3 — Effective Date of Ownership Change

Registry ownership records shall not be considered updated until:

  • Required documentation is received
  • Fees are paid
  • Transfer is processed by SSMA

Section 1 — Official Registry Records

The Registrar shall maintain official registry records including:

  • Registrations
  • Transfers
  • Applications
  • Pedigree records
  • Photographs
  • Videos
  • DNA records
  • Supporting documentation
  • Related registry materials

Section 2 — Electronic Records

SSMA may maintain records in:

  • Electronic databases
  • Cloud storage systems
  • Digital archives
  • Physical files
  • Other approved registry systems

Electronic records shall constitute official SSMA registry records.

Section 3 — Member Portal Systems

SSMA may utilize member portals, online systems, or electronic registry platforms for record management, submissions, communication, certificate delivery, and member access.

ARTICLE XI — RECORD CHANGES & CORRECTIONS

SSMA reserves the right to review, investigate, approve, deny, or require additional verification regarding requested changes to:

  • Names
  • Ownership
  • Pedigrees
  • Markings
  • Colors
  • Identification information
  • Registry records

ARTICLE XII — REGISTRAR AUTHORITY

The Registrar is authorized to:

  • Maintain official records
  • Administer registry procedures
  • Request documentation
  • Enforce submission standards
  • Delay incomplete applications
  • Return deficient submissions
  • Request additional verification
  • Process approved registry actions

in accordance with SSMA rules and Board direction.

ARTICLE XIII — INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS

Applications may be delayed, returned, or denied if:

  • Incomplete
  • Missing documentation
  • Missing fees
  • Containing conflicting information
  • Unclear
  • Insufficiently verified

SSMA may establish timelines and procedures for corrections and resubmissions.

Applicable fees must be submitted with registration, transfer, certificate, or other registry requests as established by the SSMA Board of Directors.

Applications, transfers, or other registry actions may be delayed or returned if required fees are not received.

Printed certificates, replacement certificates, transfers, and other services may require additional fees as established by SSMA procedures.

Current fees will be posted by SSMA and may be updated by the Board of Directors as needed.

SSMA reserves the right to review all applications, transfers, ownership updates, corrections, and other registry requests before approval.

Additional documentation, photographs, video verification, DNA testing or typing, parentage verification, inspection, or other supporting materials may be requested when needed to protect the integrity of the registry.

Applications may be delayed, returned, denied, suspended, or revoked if information is incomplete, unclear, conflicting, insufficiently verified, or found to be false, altered, misleading, or fraudulent.

The SSMA Board of Directors retains final authority regarding registry disputes, registration appeals, pedigree disputes, exceptions to standard procedures, disciplinary actions, and registry integrity matters.

For questions regarding SSMA membership, registration eligibility, transfers, certificates, or registry procedures, please contact the Southwest Spanish Mustang Association.

Email: ssmaregistry@gmail.com

Mailing Address:
Southwest Spanish Mustang Association
6608 N. Western Ave., #1068
Oklahoma City, OK 73116

Website: ssmaregistry.com

Download Full SSMA Guidelines & Rules

For the official and most current version of the SSMA Guidelines & Rules, please refer to this page and the PDF provided by SSMA. Unauthorized edits or altered copies are not considered official SSMA documents.

Quick Links

Contact Us:

  • (580) 271-0795
  • ssmaregistry@gmail.com
  • 6608 N. Western Ave., #1608, Oklahoma City, OK 73116
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