According to the FEI - Para-Equestrian sport in both Dressage and Driving has been steadily developing for the past 25 years and is available and practiced by equestrians with a wide variety of disabilities. Indeed, PE Dressage has been a regular fixture at the Paralympic Games since 1996, while 2006 was host to the fifth Para-Equestrian World Driving Championships. In the vein of creating opportunities for all people with disabilities to compete and achieve their goals in equestrian sport, athletes are classified according to the level of their disability/impairment so as to provide for meaningful competition.

Para-Equestrian sport was recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in 1991 and was governed until 2005 by the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee (IPEC). IPEC effetively ran competitions and developed equestrian sport for the disabled world-wide. This was confirmed when Para-Equestrian Dressage made its debut at the Atlanta Paralympic Games in 1996.

On 1 January 2006, Para-Equestrian moved from the International Paralympic Committee to the FEI, and joined the ranks of the other 7 disciplines regulated by the FEI to become the 8th FEI discipline. A symbolic step forward, as this led to the FEI becoming the first International Federation to govern and regulate a sport for both able bodied and disabled athletes. Indeed, the FEI strives to foster the growth and excellence of international horsesport for all athletes.