Import Horses from Mexico

Last Modified: November 25, 2024
7-Day Quarantine
No African Horse Sickness Present
Follow Screwworm Protocols
No Contagious Equine Metritis Present
No Foot-and-Mouth Disease Present

Horses imported to the United States from screwworm-free regions transiting screwworm-affected regions via air, land, or sea will require a minimum of 7 days in quarantine at an APHIS Animal Import Center.

General Information

Horses imported into the United States from Mexico by land or transiting Mexico require a 7 day quarantine. The animals must be accompanied by an official health certificate issued within 30 days of physical examination and endorsed by a salaried veterinarian of the Mexican government. Horses completing quarantine at an APHIS approved quarantine facility in the United States require a USDA APHIS-issued import permit prior to export. Imported horses must test negative for dourine, glanders, equine infectious anemia, and piroplasmosis. The official entry tests for equine piroplasmosis are the complement fixation test (CFT) and cELISA (enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay). Quarantine and pre-entry testing take a minimum of 7 days. There is no differentiation between temporary and permanent status of horses importing from Mexico.

Health Certificate

The health certificate should state that the horse has:

  • Been in Mexico for 60 days preceding importation. Horses imported from Mexico that have been in Mexico less than 60 days must be accompanied by an original or copy of the export certificate from each country in which the horse has resided during the 60 days prior to import into the United States.
  • Been inspected and found free of contagious diseases or exposure to any diseases immediately preceding exportation.
  • Not been vaccinated during the 14 days prior to exportation.
  • Not been on premises where African horse sickness, dourine, glanders, surra, epizootic lymphangitis, ulcerative lymphantis, equine piroplasmosis, equine infectious anemia, contagious equine metritis, vesicular stomatitis, or Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis has occurred during the last 60 days immediately preceding exportation. The certificate must also state that these diseases have not occurred on any adjoining premises during the previous 60 days.
  • Not been in a country where contagious equine metritis (CEM) is known to exist, nor have had any contact, breeding or otherwise, with horses from any such country, for the last 12 months preceding exportation.
  • Had a negative examination for ectoparasites, including ticks.
  • Been treated with ivermectin 3 to 5 days prior to the date of export to the United States according to the recommended dose prescribed on the product’s label.
  • Had a negative examination for screwworm within the 24 hours prior to shipment, including their external genitalia.
  • Any visible wounds had been treated with a solution of coumaphos dust at a concentration of 5% active solution, or a medication approved for the treatment of screwworm, at the time the horse(s) are loaded onto a means of conveyance for export.

Equine Import Health Certificate from Mexico (1.5 MB)

Required Screwworm Addendum to the Health Certificate from Mexico (220.36 KB) 

Available Ports

Due to the dynamic nature of security requirements and inspection personnel, you MUST contact the port at least 3 business days prior to crossing. Each port has may have it's own additional requirements - contact them for the latest information.

Check with the border port to determine if they require the importer to use an authorized customs broker.

Available Ports

With the exception of Del Rio and Laredo, APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) port veterinarians will inspect horses on the Mexican side of each port. Make a reservation for quarantine space at least 3 days in advance of arrival at the border port.

All Contacts

Quarantine Information

Horses coming from this country are at higher risk of harboring and spreading Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) and require a minimum of 7 days in quarantine before entering the United States. Countries affected by VEE can be found at Animal Health Status of Regions.

Import requirements include a minimum 7-day observation period in an APHIS-approved permanent quarantine facility and blood tests for dourine, glanders, equine piroplasmosis, and equine infectious anemia. Horses must test negative for all these diseases and must show no signs of illness to be released from quarantine. If originating from a country APHIS considers to be free of contagious equine metritis, they will be released after completing the initial quarantine without any further testing.

To officially enter the United States, horses from this country will require:

  • An official health certificate, issued by the exporting country.
  • An import permit, issued by the National Import Export Services.
  • A reservation at an animal import center and at an approved CEM quarantine facility, if applicable.

Fees

Costs are commensurate with services provided for importing horses at land border ports. The daily rate includes all administrative costs conducted during normal business hours: examination on arrival, routine veterinary care, lodging costs for feed and bedding, obtaining test samples and processing them for shipping to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, checking health certificates and permits, and ensuring compliance with import regulations.

Animal semen, embryos and cloning tissue may not be imported into the United States from a region other than where it was collected.

Any semen and embryo shipments should be routed directly to the United States with no stops other than those designated on the import permit.

General Information

Contact the specific port to discuss options. The Port Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO), Animal Health Technician (AHT), or Program Assistant (PA) can answer questions and ensure you have everything needed for import.

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