Among the horses brought to the New World were some dappled ones that, once they returned to the wild, quickly spread throughout the continent. They were fascinated by the indigenous peoples, particularly the Comanches, skilled horsemen who appreciated their speed and tenacity.
The popularity of these horses, endowed with loose and comfortable gaits also grew among cowboys, thanks in part to the peculiarities of the coat that made camouflage easy.
Difficult to distinguish from the “Pinto,” the Associations in the postwar period definitively established how to recognize a true “Paint”: the pinto is simply a dappled horse, of any breed; a Paint, on the other hand, is a dappled horse that must have resulted from the mating of a Paint, already registered by the Association, with a Quarter Horse, another Paint or an English Thoroughbred.
Versatility is the Paint’s strong point. It is suitable for all disciplines of Western riding but also proves itself well in show jumping and dressage. On the other hand, with their docile and quiet temperament, they are ideal for beginners and children, so they can be used for walking and trekking, where the horse’s sturdiness is a prerequisite.
