Being able to positively identify a horse is very important for a variety of reasons, from simply knowing that a horse at an event is the one it is said to be, to allowing the horse to move internationally having met the correct health requirements. The FEI Passport or National Federation passport that has FEI approval (with a recognition card) fulfills these needs and is mandatory for horses competing at most FEI sanctioned events. The passport also records which FEI events a horse has been to and also what medication controls it may have undergone. Beyond having a passport, you can also have your horse micro-chipped, and in more and more  countries this is becoming compulsory. The EU recently passed legislation that will require all horses to be micro-chipped shortly after birth. The microchip number can be recorded in the FEI passport, but microchipping alone is not currently equivalent to having a paper passport. In time, new technology will make microchipping a more universally used way of identifying horses.

The European Commission  introduced Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 concerning the identification of equines which lays down criteria for national passport issuing bodies to issue national identification documents (passports) which meet the intent of the EU. Such national passports are termed “EU compliant.”

Outside the EU, the approach to FEI passports and Recognition Cards remains the same, but it is important that all National Federations are aware of the situation that now exists  within the EU, and the guidance to EU National Federations for the issuing and use of FEI  Passports and Recognition Cards post this Regulation.

Please read the following documents:
Letter to EU National Federations
Guidelines for National Federations
Summary Q&A Table

Further updates may be issued over time during the transition period.

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FAQ

I would like to obtain an FEI passport for my horse. Who should I contact?
Your National Federation will issue an FEI passport for your horse. This passport will have to be filled in by a National Federation approved veterinarian after which the Federation will stamp and sign it. Some Federations have approved national passports; in this case an FEI recognition card will be added to the national passport. (FEI General Regulations, Article 137.) Remember that for EU national passports, a treatment logbook must be included, in which all medication used in the horse should be listed. From 5 April 2010 all horses registered with the FEI will have to have a medication Log book. See feicleansport.org. 

I’ve lost my horse’s passport. How can I obtain a new one?
You need to contact your National Federation. They will issue you a duplicate of your passport keeping the original number. An FEI approved veterinarian will have to complete it and the National Federation will stamp and sign the document. The Federation will then forward the required information to the FEI. (Veterinary Regulations, Annex XIII pt. VI 1.)

I have found an old FEI passport for my horse, which I thought was lost, and now my horse has two FEI passports. What should I do?
You have to send both passports to your National Federation. The original passport will be re-registered and will be the valid piece of identification. (Veterinary Regulations, Annex XIII pt. VI 2.)

I’ve just bought a horse with an FEI passport. What must I do?
You have to send the FEI passport to your National Federation. They will certify the change of ownership and forward the information to the FEI. (Veterinary Regulations, Annex XIII pt. IV)

For which competitions does my horse need an FEI passport?
See General Regulations, Article 137.

Identification Documents
• Identification of horses
• List of identification documents approved by FEI

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National passports/Identification documents approved by FEI
• List of identification documents approved by FEI (see vet regs annex XIV)
• Documents approved from A to F with scanned examples listed by NFs
• Documents approved from G to N with scanned examples listed by NFs
• Documents approved from O to V with scanned examples listed by NFs

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World Breeding Federation of Sport Horses
• List of Studbooks Members from WBFSH

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Unique Equine Life Number (UELN)
This is a system devised by the FEI. Each horse registered to the FEI is given a Unique Equine Life Number (UELN).
• UELN code listed by country