The American Paint Horse Breed

The American Paint Horse is a stock-type animal of Paint, Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred lineage; they often sport beautiful white markings on their coats that help set Paint Horses apart from the crowd.

Both parents must be registered with APHA, AQHA or the Jockey Club. Horses with at least one APHA parent are always eligible for APHA registration, regardless of qualifying white markings. A horse with only AQHA or Jockey Club parents must meet minimum APHA registration color requirements based on white markings on their coats. Registered Paints are identified by their coat color pattern type and registry classification.

The Patterns

Tobiano

Tobiano (pronounced: tow be yah’ no) is a dominant white spotting pattern, caused by the Tobiano allele.

Typical Tobiano Characteristics

• White markings often cross the horse’s topline between the withers and tail
• The darker color usually covers one or both flanks.
• Generally, all four legs are white, at least below the hocks and knees.
• Spots are often regular and distinct as ovals or round patterns that extend down over the neck and chest, giving the appearance of a shield.
• White spots might contain dark areas of pigmentation (“ink spots” or “paw prints”); these do not indicate homozygosity for the Tobiano
• Normal head markings are common (solid, or with a blaze, stripe, star or snip).
• The tail is often two colors.
• A tobiano may be either predominantly dark or white.

Overo

Overo (pronounced: oh vair’ oh) is a generalized term for patterns caused by one or more of the 30+ white-spotting pattern genes, excluding Tobiano. It includes patterns like frame overo, splashed white, sabino and others. Each “overo” pattern gene behaves a little differently, and presentation on the horse’s coat might vary.

Typical Overo Characteristics

• White markings usually will not cross the horse’s topline between the withers and tail.
• Generally, at least one leg (and often, all four legs) are dark. Splashed white horses, however, often look like they were dipped in white paint, and tall white stockings are common.
• Spots are often irregular in shape and might be scattered or splashy in appearance.
• Head markings might include extra white; bald-faced, apron-faced or bonnet-faced are common variations.
• The tail is often one color.
• Blue eyes are common.
• An overo may be either predominantly dark or white.

Tovero

Tovero (pronounced: tow vair’ oh) is a generalized term used to describe a horse with tobiano and one or more overo genes. These horses often display greater white markings.

Typical Tovero Characteristics

• Dark pigmentation around the ears, which might expand to cover the forehead and/or eyes.
• One or both eyes might be blue.
• Head markings often include extra white. Dark pigmentation is often found around the mouth, which might extend up the sides of the face.
• Dark spots are often found on the chest, flank(s) and/or base of the tail.

Solid

A solid Paint is one that meets the APHA registration requirements by bloodline but doesn’t display white markings on its coat or white-spotting genetics. They are called Solid Paint-Bred horses.

It is possible for horses to carry white-spotting genetics and not display them in a visual way that’s consistent with APHA registration rules. DNA testing for Paint pattern genes can confirm the possible presence in your horse! A solid horse might still qualify for APHA’s Regular Registry if he has a combination of Paint traits and Paint pattern genes (RG-070.E “genetics rule”) or if he has two APHA parents and three connected generations of APHA breeding (RG-020.A.1.b “pedigree rule”).

Coat Colors

• Bay
• Bay Roan
• Black
• Blue Roan
• Brown
• Buckskin
• Amber Champagne
• Classic Champagne
• Gold Champagne
• Chestnut

Coat Colors

• Cremello
• Dun
• Gray
• Grullo
• Palomino
• Perlino
• Red Dun
• Red Roan
• Smoky Cream
• Sorrel

Download the Paint Horse Posters as a reference!

Color Requirements for Regular Registry

A Paint Horse can qualify for the Regular Registry designation in multiple ways. The most common is by qualifying “natural Paint markings” present on the coat. Other means by a combination of Paint traits and genetics, or based on pedigree requirements, also can help a horse qualify.

RG-070.E Genetics Rule

This option allows the use of Paint traits and genetic testing results for white-spotting patterns to help an otherwise solid horse qualify for the Regular Registry. This option is ONLY available to horses registered with APHA who have at least one APHA-registered parent.

• A horse with two APHA parents must have at least one Paint pattern gene and at least one Paint trait.
• A horse with one APHA parent (the other being a Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred) can either have at least two Paint pattern genes and one Paint trait OR at least two Paint traits and at least one pattern gene.

Eligible Paint pattern genes include:

• Frame Overo
• Tobiano
• Sabino 1
• Splashed White 1/2/3/5/6/7/8 or W5/10/20/22/31/32/34/35

Eligible Paint traits include: white leg marking(s), blue eye(s), apron face, white on the lower lip or chin, two-tone mane or tail of white with any other color, dark spots in the white face or leg markings, or white markings in the non-visible zone that aren’t otherwise large enough for Regular Registry alone

More information: APHA Rule Book, RG-070.E. & G, or on the “Genetics 101” page.

RG-020.A.1.b Pedigree Rule

This option is reserved for offspring of two APHA parents who meet the following criteria:

• Two APHA parents (at least one must be a Regular Registry horse)
• Three connected generations of APHA horses in the pedigree, beginning with sire or dam
• Does not otherwise qualify for RG-070.E

More information: APHA Rule Book, RG-020.A.1.b

Resources

• PHcentral.com – the fastest, simplest and most cost-effective way to submit work
• How To Submit Work Online
• Credit Card Authorization
• Registration Guides
• Printable Registration Forms
• Paint Horse Posters
• Rule Book