prior to world war ii, there were two types of utility horse in the netherlands: gelderlanders bred in the south under the gelderlander horse studbook (1925) and the groningen bred in the north under the nwp (1943). the groningen was, and still is, a heavy-set warmblood horse very similar to the alt-oldenburger and east friesian. the gelderlander was a more elegant variation, often serving as a carriage horse in addition to a useful draft horse. while the groningen were almost unwaveringly solid black, brown, or dark bay, the gelderlanders were more often chestnut with flashy white markings. these two registries merged to form the royal warmblood horse studbook of the netherlands (kwpn).