- Pinto -

   Part-colored or odd-colored horses are known as either Pintos or Paints. In England they are called either piebalds, which are black and white, or skewbalds, which are any other color and white. This coat coloring is an ancient color, similar to the spotted coat, and is frequently seen depicted in cave art. The color probably originated in Europe or Russia, but there are now more colored horses in America, which is, therefore, termed the country of origin.

They were highly prized for their color amongst the Indian culture. The colored horse has little conformity in physical aspects, being simply a color, although in recent years, there have been efforts to create a type. There is an important distinction that should be made between the Pinto and the Paint. There are two organizations in America - the Pinto Horse Association of America and the American Paint Horse Association. Any part=colored horse can be registered with the Pinto Horse Association, and they are divided into stock type such as hunter type, pleasure, saddle, and so on. However, with the Paint Association, only colored horses with Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, or Paint bloodlines may be registered, so that they are an association primarily concerned with bloodlines. Any Paint horse can be on the Pinto register, but not every Pinto can be on the Paint register.

Within the colored horse category, there are two distinct color patterns that occur, called the tobiano and the overo. The tobiano has a white base with large colored patches, the legs are usually white and there are usually white markings across the back. The overo is a colored base with white patches that tend to start under the belly and spread upward, but rarely across the back. The overo often has a white face with blue eyes. Many of the early Spanish horses exhibited part-colored coats, and it is generally considered that many of the part=colored horses of today may have developed from the Spanish Horse. There are often Spanish characteristics evident in the part-colored horses.

As a rule, these horses are generally stocky, well-built, and powerful animals with a quality head and muscular quarters. On the whole, they have good conformation nd make very good riding horses. They stand between 14 and 15.2 hh, although there are of course also part-colored ponies, which stand up to 14 hh.

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