3 Patterns of the Paint Horse

The paint horse is a unique breed that is fast becoming the most popular in North America. The color coat pattern is one of the main characteristics that distinguish them from other breeds. The paint horse can be several different colors but they will always be one of these 3 patterns: overo, tobiano and tovero. Each of these patterns are listed and described in detail below.

A paint horse with the overo (oh vair' oh) pattern usually has at least one dark color leg and sometimes all four of the legs will be a dark color. The tail is normally one solid color and the white areas are usually scattered and in an irregular pattern. With the overo pattern the white areas will never run across the back of the horse in the area found between the tail and withers but the overo color can be mainly a dark or a white color, it doesn't matter. The head markings are very distinctive and will be either the bonnet-faced, apron-faced or the bald-faced marking.

A paint horse with the tobiano (tow be yah' no) pattern will normally have spots that will extend over the neck and the chest areas. These regular and distinct spots often have the appearance of a shield and they can be round or oval shaped. Usually, a dark color will cover at least one but sometimes both flanks. All four legs will normally be white from the knees down and the tail is usually two different colors. The head markings will be the same as solid colored horses consisting of a star, snip, strip or a blaze.

A paint horse with the tovero (tow vair' oh) pattern will have spots at the base of the tail that varies in size. They will also have dark pigmentation found around the ears that can extend over the forehead and eyes. This dark pigmentation can also be found around the mouth area, which can extend upward along the side of the face and sometimes they will form spots. The chest spots can extend upward along the neck and these will also vary in size. The flank spot can consist of one spot or one large spot with several smaller ones extending across the barrel and over the loin area. These will also vary in size. Another feature of the tovero pattern is that at least one or both of the eyes will be blue.