Final answer:
The introduction of the horse drastically increased the range and capabilities of Native Americans, particularly of the Plains tribes, leading to significant cultural transformations from agricultural lifestyles to nomadic hunter/gatherers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The introduction of the horse increased the range of Native Americans. The reintroduction of the horse to North America at European contact transformed the culture of many Plains peoples. Before the horse, Plains groups, like the Blackfoot Native Americans, were largely limited as they moved around on foot or with dog transport, but with the advent of the horse, those tribes transformed from agriculturalists to nomadic hunter/gatherers. They were able to follow and hunt the great bison herds more efficiently, which led to profound changes in their societal structure, warfare, and spiritual life.
Horses were originally introduced to North America by Spanish explorers such as Hernán Cortés and later by others like Coronado and de Soto. This introduction vastly increased the mobility and warfare capabilities of Native Americans, a transformation illustrated by the Plains Wars, where Native American horsemen gained a significant advantage over both their prey and enemies. Their newfound abilities as horsemen had given them a ferocious edge and contributed to significant cultural shifts, including their methods of hunting and their strategies in conflict.