About: Lighthorse (American Indian police)

Lighthorse (or Light Horse) was the name given by the Five Civilized Tribes of the United States to their mounted police force. The Lighthorse were generally organized into companies and assigned to different districts. Perhaps the most famous were the Cherokee Lighthorsemen which had their origins in Georgia. Although the mounted police were disbanded when the Five Civilized Tribes lost their tribal lands in the late 19th century, some tribes still use the Lighthorse name for elements of their police forces.One unrecognized native lineage clan in Idaho, the Klamawah, has a small security force called Lighthorsemen as security for their gatherings and facilities. These security agents are required to be retired tribal/local police officers.