The Paint Horse Breed

Country of Origin: The American Paint Horse Association was founded in 1962 in the United States.

Blood type: The Paint Horse is in the warmblood group.

History: It is believed that Paint  Horse origins are with the American Indians. Paint Horses are not to be confused with pinto, piebald, or skewbald which are colors of horses of any other breed. The American Paint Horse Association has strict guidelines for the Paint Horse as a breed. To register a Paint Horse it must be the offspring of two registered American Paint Horses; the offspring of a registered American Paint Horse and a Thoroughbred; or a registered American Paint Horse and a registered American Quarter Horse.

Height: The height varies from 14HH to 17HH. The Thoroughbred has added the height and there are some very large Paint Horses bred today.

Colors: ‘Color’ in Paint Horses refers to the white markings. Although the Paint Horse usually has color, it is a breed first. The registry does allow registration of solid color horses with the correct parentage and these horses are registered as Breeding Stock Paints. They carry the color genes and can produce colored offspring. The Paint Horses with qualifying markings are entered in the regular registry. Paint Horse markings, or color, can occur with any solid coat color. The white markings are caused by the absence of pigment in the skin and coat. The Paint Horse has two main patterns of white markings: the overo and the tobiano. The overo has no white markings over the spine and the tobiano has large patches of white over the spine. 

Description: Paint Horses generally have the agility of the Quarter Horse and the stamina of the Thoroughbred. They come in a wide variety of body styles depending on which of those lineages they follow. This includes the 14HH stocky built horse all the way up to the stocky built horse measuring well over 16HH.

There are also shorter Paint Horses with a lighter build measuring 14HH up to the 17HH refined looking horse. There is lots of diversity within this horse breed.  

Temperament: Paint Horses are usually calm, intelligent horses and are generally very dependable. 

Uses: Paint Horse breeders are able to produce Paint Horses that are highly competitive in any activity because of the variations in being able to cross with Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. The Paint Horse breed can be seen in any venue and enjoys doing a wide range of activities such as ranch work, working cows, the show ring in English or Western, show jumping, dressage, and racing.