The breed suffered greatly when the Soviet Union required horses to be slaughtered for meat, which however the local Turkmen refused to eat. At one point only 2,000 horses remained and export from the Soviet Union was banned. The government of Turkmenistan now uses the horses as diplomatic presents as well as auctioning a few to raise money for improved horse breeding programs.

In the early 20th century, crossing between the Thoroughbred and the Akhal-Teke took place, aiming to create a faster long-distance racehorse. However, the Anglo Akhal-Tekes were not as resilient as their Akhal-Teke ancestors, and many died due to the harsh conditions of Central Asia. The crossbreeding was ended in 1935, after the 2,600 mile endurance race from Ashkabad to Moscow, when the pure-breds finished in much better condition than the part-breds. The Thoroughbred cross is believed to have been so destructive to the breed that a horse with Thoroughbred ancestors must have 15 generations pass before it can be registered in the studbook. Since 1973, all foals must be blood-typed to be accepted in the stud book in order to protect the purity. A stallion not producing the right type of horse can be removed. The stud book was closed in 1975.

Akhal-Teke Characteristics
The Akhal-Teke's conformation can be favorably compared to the Persian Arab, another breed of ancient origin. Its head is similar to the Arabians. The Akhal-Teke's most familiar and defining characteristic is the natural bloom of its coat. This is especially seen in the palominos and buckskins, as well as the lighter bays, although some horses "shimmer" more than others, and is thought to have been used as camouflage in the desert, where the heat causes the desert to shimmer. Known for its form and grace as a show jumper, the Akhal-Teke is very tough and resilient due to the harshness of the Turkmenistan lands, where it must live without much food or water. This has also made the horses good for sport. The breed has great endurance, as shown in 1935 when fifteen Akhal-Teke horses were required to travel from Ashkhabad to Moscow on a forced march of approximately 2,600 miles and 3 days without water, including travel across the Kara-Kum desert of approximately 255 miles. The entire trip lasted approximately 84 days.

Akhal-Teke Horses are noteworthy for their almond-shaped and expressive eyes. They also have a fine head with straight or slightly convex profile, and long ears. The mane and tail is usually sparse. Their long back has little muscle, and is coupled to a flat croup and long, upright neck. Possessing a sloping shoulder and thing skin, the Akhal-Teke's have strong, touch, but fine limbs, although the hind legs are sometimes sickle-hocked. They have a rather shallow body with a shallow ribcage (like an equine greyhound) but a deep chest, and this shallowness continues to the back of the frame. Judging by Western terms, the conformation is not considered "good", but that is made up for by the breed's great beauty and athletic ability.

Akhal-Tekes are brave riding horses, lively and alert, but are known to be obstinate and rebellious at times. They are generally a one-rider horse due to their not-so-strong back.

These horses are usually a faded golden-honey color with black points. They can also be bay, black, chestnut, or grey. The Akhal-Teke usually stands between 14.3 and 15.2 hands. The Akhal-Teke is among the most elegant of the world's horses.

Male horses are not gelded in Central Asia, but remain Stallions.