A "plains cavalry" played an crucial role in a period of the american Indian Wars.

The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division is the only division that retains the "cavalry" name, and the division retains one detachment of horse cavalry for morale and ceremonial purposes. A section is otherwise divided into panoplied cavalry & air cavalry units, two of which perform a traditional cavalry tasks. A distinct Cavalry branch ceased to survive in the period of World War II. More regiments of each panoplied & air cavalry survive in the U.S. Army.

Chief, a Cavalry's endure horse, died around 1968 at the age of 36.