Dark Horse Percussion is a custom drum builder based in Long Branch, New Jersey. The company was founded in the mid-1990s by Louis and Anthony Cartinella, a father-and-son team, with initial backing from Sean Holton. It started in a residential basement in Linden, New Jersey under the name Cartinella Custom Percussion, retailing major-brand percussion gear before pivoting to building its own drums.

The shop focuses on hand-built custom drum kits and snares, working directly with players on shell construction, finishes, and hardware specifications. Over the years the operation has moved through several New Jersey locations, including studios in Union, Westfield, and Kenilworth, before settling at its Long Branch facility.

Dark Horse maintains an artist roster spanning a wide range of genres and is known on the East Coast boutique drum scene for build-to-order kits rather than mass-production lines.

Dark Horse Percussion has 2 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Drum Sets. Their gear is featured by 6 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock. Notable users include Matt Brasch, Ben Russin, and Nick Steinborn.