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    Home » Horse Fun

    American Paint Horse Facts You Might Not Have Known

    Modified: Aug 10, 2020 by ihearthorses · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    By far the easiest to recognize horse is the American Paint Horse. The splashy markings makes them a favorite for many riders, both in and out of the show ring. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t appreciate a flashy black and white or a stunning palomino Paint. But how well do you really know the Paint Horse? The following are 8 fun facts about the American Paint Horse you may not know.

    Lovely paint horse with western bridle

    #1 – New World, New Horse

    “Spotted horses” were first mentioned in 1519 by Spanish Explorer Hernando Cortes, whose historian recorded these colored horses in his diary. They originally called them “Pintos.”  (www.apha.com)

    Bay pinto horse run fast in green spring meadow

    #2 – The Comanches Favorite

    These spotted horses were a favorite among the Comanche Indians, who had large herds of them.  Images of them are found on painted buffalo robes of the Comanches. (www.apha.com)

    Paint horse stallion looking

    #3 – Many Names, One Horse

    Before the 1950s, these horses were called by many names including Pinto, Paint, Skewbald, and PieBald. The Pinto Association solidified the name “pinto” in the late 50s and then The Paint Association was established in 1962 for stock-type, spotted horses.

    Running paint horse mare

    #4 – World-Over Popularity

    Today, the American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second largest equine registry – people just can’t get enough of these beautiful horses. Over one million Paint horses are registered, with about 15,000 being registered annually.

    #5 – Each One’s Unique

    Much like a zebra’s stripes, each paint horse has his own unique markings. No two are alike.

    Paint horse stallion

    #6 – All Paints Are Pintos, But Not All Pintos Are Paints

    While some use this term interchangeable, they are actually two different horses now. The Pinto is any breed of horse that has spotting – Arabian, Saddlebred, Miniature horse, etc. The Paint horse is a specific breed of horse that, in order to be registered, must have a sire and dam that are registered with American Paint Horse Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, or the Jockey Club (Thoroughbreds). Therefore, all Paints are Pintos because they meet the requirement of “any spotted horse,” but not all Pintos are Paints because they do not all have Quarter Horse, Paint or Thoroughbred bloodlines.

    Interested in seeing more photos of paint horses? Check out our popular article 15 Breathtaking Images Of Paint Horses.

    An American Paint horse in the pasture.

    #7 – Colored With White Spots

    People often ask if Zebras are black with white stripes or white with black stripes. Well, the Paint horse is a colored horse with white spots. They carry special genes that cause certain types of spotting “patterns” that give them their unique look. A horse can carry more than one spotting gene. (www.press.apha.com)

    Running Paint Horse

    #8 – White Paints

    There is such a thing as a white paint! While white horses are rare, the gene is actually dominant and it can occur in Paints. Even more interesting, is the horse may actually have a paint (spotting) pattern but it won’t be visible because the base color is white as well. These horses are born white and have dark eyes and pink skin, which separates them from a gray horse. They are not genetically similar to an Overo Lethal White Syndrome foal. But, most likely, you will not ever seen one, they are that rare.  (www.press.apha.com)

    Want to learn more about these beautiful horses? Check out the video below!

    Horse Courses by Elaine Heney

    • Listening to the Horse - The Documentary by Elaine Heney & Grey Pony Films
    • Shoulder In & Out Training for better balance, bend & topline development with your horse
    • Over 110+ Polework Exercises & Challenges to Download
    • Dancing at Liberty & Creating Connection with Your Horse (11 lessons) - Grey Pony Films
     

    Interested in learning about another fascinating horse breed? Check out our popular article Percherons: The Fascinating Backstory Behind Our Favorite Cold-Blooded Giants. 

    american paint horses

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    1. Sharen Graves

      April 02, 2020 at 5:24 am

      Very beautiful horses, interesting article, enjoyed it.

      Reply

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