The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Mounted Unit officially began on July 31, 1998, with two officers, two horses and a sergeant. It now includes nine horses, five full-time riders and one officer who serves as trainer/rider. The Mounted Patrol Unit's facility includes a modular office and a 12-stall barn which was completed for about $100,000, 66% less than the initial estimate of $300,000.

The Mounted Patrol Unit spends most of its time conducting routine patrol downtown and on the Strip. The unit is also used for any major events that may require crowd control such as strike rallies, protests, sporting events or large concerts. The horses' size creates an intimidation factor that helps ensure success at such events.

The unit's start-up followed more than a year of research by Officers Eric Fricker, Kelly Korb and Kendall Wiley. They were looking into the feasibility of a Mounted Police Unit to deliver police services to supplement foot, vehicle and bicycle patrol officers. The officers traveled more than 12,000 miles, personally interviewed and observed twenty mounted police units to research safety equipment, housing, and deployment strategies.