The state animal of New Jersey is the horse (Equus caballus). The U.S. Equestrian Team headquarters are in New Jersey. After signing the law to officially designate the horse as New Jersey's state animal in 1977, Governor Byrne said:

"The founding fathers of our state thought so highly of the horse that they included it in our state seal. Today there are 4,654 horse farms in New Jersey, of which 888 raise racing horses. The Horse industry makes a contribution to the preservation of green acres at a time when great demands are being made for the preservation of our land."

I want to extend special thanks today to Michael McCarthy and his classmates at Our Lady of Victories School in Harrington Park and to James Sweetman of Freehold NJ. It is because of their efforts that the horse is now the State Animal of New Jersey."

Horses are official state symbols in 10 states: Vermont and Massachusetts (morgan horse); Alabama (racking horse); Idaho (Apaloosa horse); Kentucky and Maryland (thoroughbred horse); Tennessee (Tennessee walking horse); North Dakota (Nokota horse); Missouri (fox trotting horse), and New Jersey ("the horse").

Source:

New Jersey State Animal: state of NJ official website
Press Release on NJ state animal: office of the Governor
Horse photo © Richard Mousel / CritterZone:
Animal - Wildlife - Nature Stock Photography
Copyrighted image - no use allowed without a license
(contact CritterZone for commercial application license)

Links:

United States Equestrian Team Foundation - USET
State Animals - Mammals: 50 States List