• There are two breed societies in America for this breed - the Pinto Horse Association and the American Paint Horse Association

• The Pinto Horse Association is a colour registry, which registers any breed of horse that meets its colour requirements. The latter corporation (APHA) registers stock-type horses with blood lines from Paints, Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds

• Therefore, Pinto's may be any breed of horse as where Paint Horses 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 colour requirement. (The word PINTO, is Spanish for PAINTED)

• It is therefore possible for a loud-colored horse to be registered at both associations as the two registries are independent

• For registration and breeding purposes, American Paint Horses are categorized by their specific colour patterns. The tobiano pattern is distinguished by head markings like those of a solid coloured horse; their heads may be completely solid, or have a blaze, strip, star or snip. Usually, 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. 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 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 which describes horses that have characteristics of both types of pattern

• This stock type horse's breeding is based on bloodlines of registered American Paint Horses, Quarter Horses, or Jockey Club recognized organization registered Thoroughbreds who meet minimum color requirements

• The American Paint Horses development seems to have roughly paralleled that of the Pinto

• Many Native American tribes revered this horse and believed it had magical powers to protect warriors while mounted

• The Sioux have handed down a song from generation to generation about a Paint Horse who returned from the Battle of Little Bighorn

• The Pawnee and Arikana tribes also honor a spotted horse returning from battle in a war dance song

• One Cheyenne legend ties the golden eagle to black and white horses

• The Paint Horse stands at around 15 - 16 hands high and is warm blooded