[7][8] In the 21st century, it is considered to be an endangered breed, with a world-wide population estimated at little over 2,000 horses.

[2] The Knabstrupper descends from a single Iberian horse mare, "with the stamp of an English hunter type",[9] believed to have originated in Spain who showed qualities of endurance and speed, and was of an unusual colouration: a deep red (German: Zobelfuchs) with a white tail and mane, and white flecks or "snowflakes" over her whole body and brown spots on her back.

He sold her to Willars Knudsen Lunn [da], who took her to his estate at Knabstrup Hovedgård in the kommune of Holbæk in Zealand.

[5]: 480 [7]: 113  A registry was founded in 1812 for the establishment of a new "spotted" horse breed, using Flaebehoppen as foundation stock.

[5]: 480 [7]: 113 [8]: 176  In 1971, three Appaloosa stallions were imported to Denmark in the hope of adding new blood to the Knabstrupper breed; only two of them were used, and many breeders preferred to cross-breed with Danish Warmblood, Holsteiner, or Trakehner stock.