The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse developed from ponies taken to Iceland by Nordic settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries. The breed is mentioned in literature and historical records throughout Icelandic history. The first reference to the horse appears in the 12th century. The Icelandic horse has an additional gait, tölt. Tölt is a four-beat gait where the horse alternately has one and two legs on the ground. The result is a very even and comfortable gait for the rider. Todays stamp from Iceland (1958) shows a beautiful example of the Icelandic horse.