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   The American Black & Tan Coonhound according to the United Kennel Club is one of many tracking breeds that were developed in the southern United States. The breed can trace its immediate ancestry to the American Foxhound and the Virginia Foxhound of colonial days, with probably the introduction of some Bloodhound stock. This latter would not only explain the coloration of the Black & Tan, but its tendency toward being larger boned than other breeds, its long ears and its famous cold nose.

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   The American Black & Tan can probably be traced to the English Foxhounds, and before that to the Tolbot Hounds and St. Hubert hounds of France. These hounds were first brought to England following the Norman invasion in the eleventh century. The American Black & Tan was the first coonhound breed to be admitted into the registry with UKC. When they were first registered in 1900, and for several years after that, they were registered as American Black & Tan Fox and Coonhound. 

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   The American Black and Tan Coonhound was also the first coonhound breed to be registered by the American Kennel Club in 1945.