Origin of Paint Horse

Answer 1

Paint horses were originally just Quarter Horses that had excessive white on

them. Because the AQHA had white restrictions for the registry any horse that had white that extended over the eyes or notrils, above the knees and hocks, white patches of hair on the body larger than 2" with pink skin underneath it were excluded from the registry on account of these white patterns.

Horse lovers felt that these genetic Quarter Horses with too much white on them where too valuable to be discarded as pedigreed animals. So the APHA (American Paint Horse Association) began their own registry to breed, show, work and value these wonderful horses. In the past decade or so the American Paint was the fastest growing breed in the world.

*Ironically, the AQHA has lifted the white restrictions on their registations, stating than any horse reguardless of coloring can be registered as long as both parents are register with the AQHA.