A group of private and commercial packers met in 1981 to form the High Sierra Stock Users Association with the purpose of representing horsemen in dealings with the administrators of public lands. Five years later the HSSUA joined with Montana, Idaho, and Washington to form an affiliation called the Back Country Horsemen of America. The national organization's task is to coordinate activities of the various state backcountry organizations. The BCHA now has BCH organizations in 12 western states. The HSSUA adopted the name Backcountry Horsemen of California in order to conform to the national name and to better reflect its growing statewide membership. The association has a membership that totals over 3,000 men and women most of whom are affiliated with one of our 22 units.