| When it comes to American history, no other | | | | The color patterns specific to paint horses include |
| animal is more closely associated with the story | | | | any combination of the color white and another |
| of this country than the horse. Inseparable from | | | | color standard to horses such as brown, gray or |
| the Wild West, and indistinguishable from the | | | | black. Their distinctive coloring often looks like |
| image of the American cowboy, horses will be | | | | splashings of paint - or markings - over the |
| forever identified with the picture of early | | | | horse's body but actually fall into three color |
| Americana. But no breed of horse is more | | | | classifications that a horse must have in order to |
| interconnected with this cherished history than | | | | be considered a Paint horse. |
| Paint horses. | | | | The three color patterns are: tobiano, which |
| But as closely associated with American history | | | | generally features four white legs, round or oval |
| as they are, ironically, Paint horses had their start | | | | spots across the chest and neck area, and a |
| in America via Spain. When Spanish explorers | | | | two-toned tail; the overo pattern wherein the |
| came to the New World in 1519, they brought | | | | prominent color is either white or dark, four dark |
| with them an enormous amount of supplies and a | | | | legs, white head coloring, and single colored tail; |
| number of horses. These Paint horses eventually | | | | and a combination of tobiano and overo that is |
| dotted the landscape in wild herds, and by the | | | | referred to as tovero and used to describe those |
| 1800s tribes of American Indians were using the | | | | Paint horses that have common qualities of both. |
| breed for riding. | | | | Paint horses today are often seen in modern day |
| There were a variety of names attached to | | | | rodeos, as well as in horse competitions such as |
| these spot covered horses throughout the 1800s | | | | racing and showing. The American Paint Horse is a |
| and 1900s, but the name that seemed to stick | | | | naturally intelligent breed that is extremely amiable |
| was the Pinto horse. However, a group of horse | | | | and easily trained. As such, they are also often |
| enthusiasts, dedicated to preserving more than | | | | used for trail riding and as a temperate ride for |
| just the unique color patterns of this particular | | | | children. |
| breed, formed in the 1960s calling themselves the | | | | The image of paint horses conjure up thoughts of |
| American Paint Stock Horse Association - a group | | | | the American frontier where battles were waged |
| that went on to eventually identify and classify | | | | on open land and under endless skies. This |
| the different varieties of Paint horses. | | | | particular breed of horse encapsulates all the |
| Paint horses - under this strict classification | | | | romanticism of these primitive beginnings. But the |
| system - must not only adhere to strident color | | | | modern paint horses stay true to their history |
| pattern regulations but must have at least one | | | | while taking their place in modern times both as a |
| parent that is a registered Paint horse in order to | | | | competitor and as a companion. |
| be identified as part of the breed. | | | | |