ANICA was founded in Rome on November 12, 1979 and was officially recognized by the W.A.H.O. (World Arabian Horse Organization) in 1982, the year the first volume of the Stud Book (Genealogical Book) of the PSA in Italy was published. Registered since May 10, 2001, as No. 1 in the Prefecture Register of Legal Entities of Parma.

With recognition from W.A.H.O. (in 1982) and from the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, with DM No. 21636 dated 19/11/2007, A.N.I.C.A. is considered internationally the only organization in Italy for maintaining the Italian Stud Book (Genealogical Book) for the purebred Arabian horse (W.A.H.O. recognizes only one official Stud Book per country).

With W.A.H.O. recognition, all purebred Arabian horses born in Italy and certified by A.N.I.C.A. can be exported and registered worldwide. No PSA horse will be recognized and registered abroad without documents issued by ANICA.

ANICA has published to date 12 volumes of the genealogical book containing 16,000 (sixteen thousand) purebred Arabian horses duly registered with A.N.I.C.A. For each, it is possible to consult not only the registration data, but also the genealogy extended to 5 generations and production in Italy.

Before being registered with ANICA, horses born in Italy must undergo parentage verification, a test that identifies the actual paternity and maternity of the declared parents using DNA or blood typing; only after this verification does the Secretariat assign a registration number and issue a passport compliant with current EU regulations.

Imported horses must arrive with parentage verification already performed in the country of origin and their own passport issued by the Association of the country of origin.

ANICA members exceed one thousand and are divided into Breeders (owners of at least one Arabian mare) and Owners (owners of at least one Arabian horse that is not a mare).

The Association is currently managed by a Board of Directors composed of 7 members, including the President, Vice President, Secretary, and four Directors, one of whom represents owner members, and a Board of Auditors composed of three members who are required to check the accounting and administrative situation quarterly.

The Association is obliged to prepare annual income and expenditure budgets annually, with fiscal year-end on December 31 of each year, which must be approved by the Assembly of Members by the following April as per the bylaws.

The legal and operational headquarters of ANICA is located in Collecchio (PR); the secretariat is managed by the Secretary and employs 4 full-time staff.