The Alter Stud Farm was born out of the will of a King, who gave birth to the mother house of the Lusitano thoroughbred horse in Portugal. It was created in 1748 as part of a new horse policy initiated in 1708 by King João V, a horse aficionado.
In 1726, King João V ordered the construction of the Royal Stables in Belém, or the transformation of a baroque riding arena into a Royal Riding Arena. When the work was finished, and encouraged by Queen Maria Anna of Austria, who was also a horse lover, they realized the need to have in Portugal the best horses with a national production label, suitable for High School practice.
With this royal desire, the Royal Stud Farm of Alter was born in 1748. Coutada do Arneiro, an 800-hectare estate, was chosen as the location for this project.
It was King José I who was credited with setting up and structuring what is still today the most notable Portuguese Stud Farm.
Throughout its existence, the Stud Farm has overcome many adversities and made history, becoming for many the oldest in the world to operate uninterruptedly in the same place.