It was bred in the early twentieth century in the Triângulo Mineiro in the western part of Minas Gerais state, and particularly in the area surrounding Uberaba.
[4]: 219 [5]: 29 It was bred in the early twentieth century in the Triângulo Mineiro in the western part of Minas Gerais state, and particularly in the area surrounding Uberaba, which gave rise to its original name, Induberaba; the name was changed to the present one in 1936.
[5]: 29 A breed association was started in 1939[3]: 205 and another, the Associação Brasileira dos Criadores de Indubrasil, was established in 1962.
[3]: 205 [2] In the twenty-first century it is an endangered breed:[3]: 205 a total population in Brazil of approximately 900 head was reported to DAD-IS for 2017, for 2020 and for 2021.
[3]: 205 At the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City it has been selectively bred since the 1970s for small size, leading to the development of the Minivaca, a dwarf breed standing about 100 cm tall.