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Of the four accepted conformations, the saddle type
is typically an English horse of predominant Saddle
or Tennessee walking horse, and the pony is known
for sharing those same traits with a combination of
the Shetland and Tennessee Walking Pony. The hunter
type would be considered to be dominated by
thoroughbred breeding and the pony shows
conformation associated with the thoroughbred horse
and the Connemara Pony. A western horse showing
the predominance of the quarter horse and paint
conformity is commonly referred to as a stock type
with the pony displaying characteristics of the
quarter horse and Shetland pony. The pleasure type
shows the conformation of the Arabian horse and the
pony shows either the Arabian horse or Welsh Pony
conformations.
Breeders are encouraged to maintain breeding in
the specific type and in competition, they are shown
in their own class. Pinto breeders are in agreement
with other breeders that conformation is what helps
define how the horse helps its riders compete
successfully.
The coloring of the Pinto horse breed is defined as
a dark background color with splashes of white and
there are two recognized patterns for the coloring.
Tobiano, which appears to be white with large spots
of color with the while generally crossing the
horse’s back. Overo, which appears as a white horse
with color patches. It is thought that to attain a
Tobiano coloring, one of the parents had to be of
Tobiano colors.
During the 17th century in England, horses with
colorful spots were treasured, however the fad of
the horse’s coloring wore off and they became
unsellable, they were shipped to America by the
thousands. Many were sold but others were set free
to roam the plains. As the colorings became popular
among the Native Americans they continued to be bred
for their colorings.
The stock type Pinto horse breed, with its
heritage traced to thoroughbred and quarter horses
it has been named the American Paint. Breeding is
the only factor separating a Pinto from a Paint as a
Pinto can be any breed, with some restricted to
include all breeds except draft horses while a Paint
must be registered with bloodlines including a
registered quarter horse, a thoroughbred or a Pain
horse. Because of these restrictions not all Pinto
horses qualify for registration as Paints, but all
Paint horse can qualify as Pintos.
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