The
American Paint Horse - A Colorful Part of
Our Western Heritage
Let your imagination carry you back to a
simpler time. A time when wide open spaces
under clear, crisp skies beckoned to come
explore the wild frontier. Rediscover those
basic values and simple pleasures on the
back of a colorful horse. Celebrate this
chance to return to the roots of the
American West with a unique, living legend -
the American Paint Horse.
Decorated by nature, the origins of the
Paint Horse in North America can be traced
back to the two-toned horses introduced by
the Spanish explorers, descendants of horses
from North Africa and Asia Minor.
Inevitably, some of these colorful equines
escaped to create the wild herds of horses
roaming the Great Plains. Captured and
gentled, they raced alongside the vast herds
of buffalo and traveled hundreds of miles on
cattle drives. Cherished by the finest
horsemen of the Western frontier, both
Native Americans and cowboys sought the
hardy horses loudly splashed with color.
Over time, breeders gradually improved
the conformation and athletic ability of the
rugged descendants of wild mustangs and cow
ponies. Each generation passed its unusual
and unique coat patterns and coloring to the
next, creating the American Paint Horse.
Today, the stock-type conformation, natural
intelligence and willing disposition make
the American Paint Horse an ideal partner
for pleasure riding, showing, ranching,
racing, rodeoing, trail riding, or just as a
gentle friend for the kids.
Color and Conformation: a Distinctive
Combination
While the colorful coat pattern is
essential to the identity of the breed,
American Paint Horses have strict bloodline
requirements and a distinctive body type. To
be eligible for registry, a Paint must come
from stock registered with the American
Paint Horse Association, the American
Quarter Horse Association, or the Jockey
Club (Thoroughbreds). The result is an
intelligent stock-type horse that is
extraordinarily versatile, powerful and
athletic with unequaled beauty. Paints are
stockier and more powerfully muscled than
some other light horse breeds. Though
generally short-coupled, strong-boned and
well-balanced, American Paints also exhibit
exceptional refinement and beauty,
especially about the head and neck.
Color patterns differentiate the American
Paint Horse from other stock-type breeds.
Each horse has a unique combination of white
and any one of the colors of the equine
rainbow: black, bay, brown, chestnut, dun,
grulla, sorrel, palomino, gray or roan.
Paint or Pinto? A Question of
Bloodlines
The terms "Paint" and "Pinto" are often
confused when referring to a horse with a
light and dark coat pattern. In fact, they
have different meanings. The Pinto Horse
Association is a color registry, and Pintos
can be any breed. Paints are APHA-registered
horses that can prove parentage from one of
the three approved registries AQHA, TB and
APHA, as well as meet a minimum color
requirement. While a loud-colored horse
could be double-registered if it met the
breed standards specified by each registry,
the two registries are independent.
For registration and breeding purposes,
American Paint Horses are categorized by
their specific color patterns.
The tobiano pattern (pronounced: tow be yah'
no) is distinguished by head markings like
those of a solid-colored horse; their heads
may be completely solid, or have a blaze,
strip, star or snip. Generally, all four of
the tobiano's legs are white, at least below
the hocks and knees. Their spots are regular
and distinctly oval or round and extend down
the neck and chest, giving the appearance of
a shield. Usually a tobiano will have the
dark color on one or both flanks - although
a tobiano may be either predominantly dark
or white. The tail is often two colors.
The overo pattern (pronounced: oh vair'
oh) may also be either predominantly dark or
white. But typically, the white on an overo
will not cross the back of the horse between
its withers and its tail. Generally, one or
all four legs will be dark. Also notable is
that overos have bold white head markings
such as a bald face. Overos generally have
irregular, scattered markings. The horse's
tail is usually one color.
However, not all coat patterns fit neatly
into these two categories. For this reason,
a number of years ago the APHA expanded its
classifications to include "tovero"
(pronounced: tow vair' oh) to describe
horses that have characteristics of both the
tobiano and overo patterns.
An Association as Special as its
Members
The American Paint Stock Horse
Association was formed in 1962 by horsemen
and women who loved the abilities of the
Western stock-type horse, but also treasured
the unusual color patterns of the American
Paint. The organization has grown from a
registry of 3,800 horses at its foundation
to more than a quarter of a million horses
worldwide today. The number continues to
grow with more than 25,000 foals registered
last year, making the APHA the third largest
equine registry in the United States based
on the number of foals registered annually.
Although the APHA's primary mission is to
record pedigrees, the association is also
dedicated to promoting the history,
breeding, training, showing, racing, sales
and enjoyment of American Paints.
But the heart of the APHA is its members,
for the mission of the association and the
programs it sponsors reflect their interests
and their love of the American Paint Horse.
As a result, the APHA has developed programs
for every level of interest and skill. If
it's competition you crave, whether you are
a youth, amateur, or professional, team up
with a natural athlete and choose from local
shows to world championships. Perhaps you're
seeking to explore new trails. Saddle up on
a Paint and join the leisure riding program
Ride America, or participate in the annual
APHA-sponsored trail ride. If your goal is
to reach new levels of performance, a Paint
can take you there be it in eventing or team
penning. And the association has the Outside
Competitive Activities Program to record
your achievements in those areas as well.
The photographs and information
contained on this page are provided courtesy
of the
American Paint Horse Association,
P.O. Box 961023, Fort Worth, TX 76161-0023
Phone: 817-834-2742
