Missouri Fox Trotters stand 14 to 16 hands (56 to 64 inches, 142 to 163 cm) high, and weigh between 900 and 1,200 pounds (410 and 540 kg).

In a fox trot, the horse must keep one front foot on the ground at all times and display a sliding motion with the hind legs.

Breeds that contributed to the Fox Trotter included the Arabian, Morgan, American Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse and Standardbred.

[8] By the time of Missouri's statehood in 1821, the horses of the state were known for their unique gait, which was useful in the rocky terrain of the Ozark Mountains.

[3] The first Fox Trotters were exported to Europe in the 1950s, when the Queen of the United Kingdom imported several palomino-colored horses.

[11] Missouri Fox Trotters are seen throughout the United States, as well as in Canada and several European countries,[3] and as of 2012 the MFTHBA had registered over 97,000 horses and counts over 8,000 current members.

[14] In 2006, a new registry, the Foundation Foxtrotter Heritage Association (FFHA), was formed with a goal of preserving and promoting the original heritage type of Fox Trotter that was seen in the first 20 years of the MFTHBA registry, in large part through reducing the amount of Tennessee Walking Horse blood.

[15] Missouri Fox Trotters are used extensively by trail riders, who appreciate their gaits, stamina and weight-carrying abilities.

[3] The US Forest Service also employs Fox Trotters for their speed, stamina and gait, and members of the breed were used to make the first horse-back descent of the north rim of the Grand Canyon.