American Paint Horse Registry

History & Origins:
American Paint Horses have a long and storied past. It is believed they descended from horses first brought to the New World in the early 1500s by Spanish conquistadors. Early Paints then joined the wild herds of Western America. They soon captured the fancy of American Indians, who revered the Paint's peculiar patterns and strong conformation. Eventually, Paints were used to forge the settlements and cattle ranches of the West. Though their colorful coat pattern is the breed's identity, modern Paints have strict bloodline requirements and a distinctive stock-type conformation. Registry with the American Paint Horse Registry requires a Paint's sire and dam be registered with either the APHA, the American Quarter Horse Registry, or the Thoroughbred Registry. In addition, at least one of their parents must be registered with the APHA. Today, Paints are consistently ranked as one of the most popular horses in the world, thanks to a combination of conformation, beauty, willing disposition, and intelligence.

Size:
The average Paint stands 14.2 to 16 hands (58" to 64") high. However, there are no height requirements for registration with the APHA.

Color & Markings:
American Paint Horses are, in part, defined by their colorful coat patterns.  Their white coats are combined with various markings of black, bay, brown, chestnut/sorrel, classic dun, red dun, grullo, dunskin, dunalino, perlino dun, palomino, buckskin, gray, blue roan, bay roan, red roan, perlino, or cremello & many variations & combinations of these colors (way to many to list). These markings can be found anywhere on the body, in any size or shape. However, Paint Horse color combinations and patterns fall into five basic patterns - tobiano, overo, tovero, splashed white or sabino. Solid "breeding stock" paints will be judged on a case by case basic & only solid offspring of 2 registered paints are guaranteed approval.