[2]: 139 The Salernitano originates in the floodplains of the Sele river in the comuni of Battipaglia, Capaccio and Eboli, in the province of Salerno in Campania in southern Italy.

From the time of the Republic of Amalfi and during the crusades, the local horses of the area were influenced by Oriental blood.

From the early years of the nineteenth century, Thoroughbred and – to a lesser extent – Hackney blood was used to improve military aptitudes.

From the 1920s the Salernitano began to be used as a sport horse, in flat racing, over jumps and in show-jumping.

[2]: 139  In 2015, the two breeds were recognised as separate by the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali, the Italian ministry of agriculture.