Paint or Pinto?
Many times the terms Paint Horse and Pinto Horse are incorrectly used interchangeably.
To be eligible for registration with The American Paint Horse Association
(APHA) the applicant must be able to prove parentage from one of the three approved
registries - APHA, AQHA and TB as well as meet a minimum color requirement.
Any horse (except a horse of draft blood) meeting the color requirements,
regardless of it's parentage , can be registered with the Pinto Assoc. While
horses can and often are double registered with APHA and the Pinto registry,
the two registries are independent.
Color Patterns
Tobiano: (tow be yah' no)
Head-markings will be like those of a solid colored horse. Solid, or
with a blaze, strip, star or snip.
Generally all four legs will be white, at least below the hocks and knees.
Generally, the spots are regular and distinct as ovals or round patterns
that extend down over the neck and chest, giving the appearance of
a shield.
The horse usually will have the dark color on one or both flanks.
A tobiano may be either predominantly dark or white.
Looks as though someone stood above and poured white paint over the horses
back.
Overo: (oh vair' oh)
The white usually will not cross the back of the horse between its withers
and tail.
Generally, at least one leg, and often all four legs, will be the dark color.
Head-markings are often bald-faced, apron-faced, or bonnet-faced.
Generally, the white is irregular, rather scattered or splashy, and it is
often referred to as calico.
The tail is usually one color.
An overo horse may be either predominantly dark or white.
Looks as though the white paint crawls up the horses side from underneath.
Tovero: (tow vair' oh)
Shows some, many or all characteristics of both color patterns.
Solid or Breeding Stock:
In addition to the Regular Registry the APHA has established the Breeding
Stock registry for those horses who meet all bloodline requirements but lack
sufficient white hair with underlying, unpigmented skin to be included in
the Regular Registry. The Breeding Stock registry was developed so
as not to lose the potential offspring of horses eligible by blood to be
Paint Horses but how lack the Paint coloring. Horses registered in the Breeding
Stock registry can be shown at APHA approved shows in separate Breeding Stock
classes and earn points toward their Register Of Merit (ROM), Superiors,
and Championships. All registered Paints, Regular or Breeding Stock
can compete in the Outside Competitive Activities Programs (OCAP).
What is a Cropout?
When two Quarter Horse or TB parents produce a foal with excessive white
the result is eligible for registry with the APHA as a cropout. Cropouts
must meet the minimum color requirement to qualify for regular registry.
Stallions and mares that do not meet this requirement may be considered
for the Breeding Stock Registry. Cropout geldings are not eligible
for the Breeding Stock registry for obvious reasons.
Quarter Horse cropouts may be eligible for registration with both the AQHA
and the APHA (referred to as double registered). However, the horse
must meet the color requirements of both registries.
Two Thoroughbred parents may also produce a cropout foal, but the Jockey
Club has no color rule restrictions. Therefore, a foal may be
double registered with the APHA and the Jockey Club if it has the minimum
amount of color to meet APHA's color rule.
