The American Paint Horse is a color breed which is bred and registered based on their color. However to add an animal to the registry their lineage must be of either Thoroughbred or Quarter Horse bloodlines.
Early Paints
Paint horses are thought to have originated in Europe where evidence of spotted horses goes back to 700 A.D.
Image from LstCaress
Later the spotted animals made their way to the Americas via the Spanish Conquistadors who sailed with their mounts. Their vibrant spotted patterns were prized by many of the indigenous tribes and some of them implemented their own breeding programs.
Recognized Animals
There are two specific paint patterns that are recognized by the American Paint registry, overo & tobiano. Breeding & registration restrictions for the American Paint Horse Registry follow the American Quarter Horse Association & Jockey Club requirements.