[2][3] Fossils are widespread throughout North America, being found at more than 30 sites from Florida to Alberta and Panama (Alajuela Formation).

[4] Dinohippus was the most common horse in North America and like Equus, it did not have a dished face (i.e. the head profile did not have a concave section).

It has a distinctive passive "stay apparatus" formed from bones and tendons to help it conserve energy while standing for long periods.

[5] Dinohippus was originally thought to be a monodactyl horse, but a 1981 fossil find in Nebraska shows that some were tridactyl.

[7] D. mexicanus fed primarily on C3 plants in rainforest clearings based on paired carbon and oxygen isotope analysis.