Importers must obtain a USDA APHIS import permit, present an official health certificate issued by the exporting country's competent authority, and route the shipment through a USDA-approved port of entry with equine inspection facilities. Horses from many European countries must undergo a mandatory quarantine period at an APHIS-approved facility, with the duration and testing requirements varying by country of origin and disease-risk status. Advance coordination with APHIS and the receiving quarantine facility is essential.

Purebred breeding horses of any equine species are classified under heading 0101.10, which is reserved for registered purebreds imported specifically for breeding purposes. Horses imported for sport, pleasure, or other non-purebred-breeding uses — including registered warmbloods brought in for competition — fall under 010129 regardless of their pedigree or registration status. The intended use at the time of importation, supported by documentation, is the determining factor.