A Pinto is a coat color pattern characterized by large patches of white and another color, not a genetically distinct breed of horse. The term describes the horse’s appearance, which often confuses newcomers to the equine world. A true breed is defined by a closed studbook, specific bloodlines, and predictable physical characteristics. The Pinto pattern can appear across many different breeds, meaning a horse of any breed, from a Miniature Horse to a Thoroughbred, can be a Pinto if it exhibits the required two-toned coat.
Defining the Pinto Pattern
A breed, such as the Arabian or the Quarter Horse, is defined by its genetic lineage and must meet certain standards of conformation and ancestry. Conversely, the Pinto coloration is an external characteristic caused by specific genes that regulate the migration of pigment-producing cells during embryonic development. This results in large areas of unpigmented, pink skin covered by white hair, interspersed with areas of pigmented hair.
The white patches on a Pinto are typically asymmetrical and can be combined with any base coat color, such as black, bay, or chestnut. In British English, a black and white Pinto is often called a Piebald, while any other color combined with white is referred to as a Skewbald. The Pinto Horse Association of America (PtHA) is an organization that registers horses based on this color pattern, regardless of their parentage or breed. The PtHA only requires the horse to display a minimum amount of white, typically four square inches of cumulative white with underlying pink skin, in a qualifying zone.
Specific Types of Pinto Markings
The Pinto pattern is not caused by a single gene but by several genetically distinct patterns that manifest as different visual types. The primary patterns are Tobiano, Overo, and Tovero, each identifiable by the placement of the colored and white patches on the horse’s body.
The Tobiano pattern is the most common and is characterized by white patches that cross over the horse’s back, between the withers and the dock of the tail. Tobiano horses typically have white legs below the knees and hocks, and their heads remain mostly dark, often displaying markings similar to a solid-colored horse, like a star or a blaze. The edges of the white patches tend to be smooth and rounded, giving the horse a distinct shield-like appearance over the chest.
The Overo pattern is essentially the opposite of Tobiano, as white rarely crosses the back (topline). The white markings usually originate from the horse’s sides or belly, and the borders between color and white are often irregular and jagged. Overo horses frequently have dark legs and display extensive white markings on their faces, sometimes covering the entire face, and they commonly have one or two blue eyes. The term Overo encompasses several genetic variants, including Frame Overo, Splashed White, and Sabino, which share the characteristic of white originating from the underside or extremities.
The Tovero pattern describes a horse that exhibits characteristics of both Tobiano and Overo. A Tovero often has a predominantly white body, a trait shared with Tobiano, but features Overo-style head markings, such as a bald face or dark pigment around the ears and forehead. This mixed pattern can result in a horse that is almost entirely white with only a few dark spots on the flanks or around the ears.
Pinto Versus the American Paint Horse
The most significant point of confusion arises from the existence of the American Paint Horse, which is a breed with color requirements. While all American Paint Horses that meet the color requirements are Pintos in terms of their coat pattern, not all Pintos qualify as American Paint Horses. The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) maintains a breed registry with closed bloodlines, meaning a horse must have verifiable ancestry tracing back to registered American Paint Horses, American Quarter Horses, or Thoroughbreds.
The APHA registers a horse as a Paint based on both its pedigree and the presence of a qualifying pinto coat pattern. This makes the American Paint Horse a true breed tied to the stock horse type. In contrast, the Pinto Horse Association of America (PtHA) is a color registry that focuses solely on the presence of the pinto pattern. The PtHA accepts horses from virtually any breed, type, or size, provided they meet the minimum color standards. This distinction means a Pinto can be an Arabian, a Shetland Pony, or a Draft cross, but an American Paint Horse is specifically a stock-type horse of defined lineage.