One example method to perform object-based load balancing in a distributed storage system of a virtualization system supported by a cluster of host machines may include determining, by a first host machine in the cluster, whether any host machine in the cluster has affinity to a site. The method may also include determining, by the first host machine, whether to distribute affinity Internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) targets owned by the first host machine to at least the second machine based on a first balance objective associated with the site, and after having considered the first balance objective, determining, by the first host machine, whether to distribute iSCSI targets without affinity owned by the first host machine to other host machines in the cluster based on a second balance objective associated with the cluster.