After the reductions following the Napoleonic War there were three Houshold Cavalry Regiments, seven Regiments of Dragoon Guards and sixteen Regiments in the light branch left.
The Great Mutiny led first to the raising of two light regiments and then to the addition of three regiments that erstwhile served with the East India Company. At the same time the conversion of Light Dragoons into Hussars and, less prominent, into Lancers was very popular.