The Pasadena Tournament of Roses has announced its selection of the 18 equestrian units that will ride in the 135th annual Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

Equestrian units have been a key part of the parade since its inception in 1890, and this year will feature a variety of breeds highlighting their skills, beauty and charm.

The units will ride the 5 1/2-mile route and will be invited to showcase their talents in Equestfest on Dec. 29 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

Three units, from horses that square dance to award-winning cowgirls and police horses who bring joy to children’s hospitals, are participating in their first Rose Parade.

Rose Parade equestrian units (listed alphabetically): • 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment — Fort Cavazos, Tex. • Arabian Horse Association Versatile Arabians — Greenwood Village, Colo. • Blue Shadows Mounted Drill Team — Lakeview Terrace. • Budweiser Clydesdales — St. Louis. • California Cowgirls Drill Team — Wilton. • Long Beach Mounted Police & Kings County Sheriff’s Posse — Long Beach and Kings County. • Los Hermanos Banuelos Charro Team — Altadena. • The New Buffalo Soldiers — Shadow Hills. • The Norco Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team — Norco. • Orange County Regional Mounted Enforcement Unit/Western State Mounted Officer Assoc. — Orange County. • Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers — Sacramento. • Scripps Miramar Ranch — San Diego. • Silver Spurs Riding Club Quadrille — Kissimmee, Fla. • Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday Celebration — Washington, D.C. • Spirit of the West Riders — Arcadia. • Valley Hunt Club — Pasadena. • Victorian Roses Ladies Riding Society — Alpine. • U.S. Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard — Barstow.

For a detailed description of each equestrian unit, go to tournamentofroses.com and search “equestrian.”