The American Paint Horse is distinguished by broad pinto spotting of white and black hair. It’s a western stock horse developed from two bloodlines, the American Quarter horses and the Thoroughbred.
Naming these horses just got a lot easier seeing as you can name them by their spotting pattern, either of their sire or dam-inspired names, or just by their characteristics. Common paint horse names include Wrangler, Boomer, Rusty, Brutus, Cruize, and many more.
Following is a detailed look into great names for your paint horse, gelding, or mare, plus American Indian native names, show names, and famous paint horse names.
Good Names for Paint Horses
Argo
This is the name of the horse of Xena in the television series “Xena, Warrior Princess.” Argo was faithful, intelligent, and brave in battle. She also had an uncanny knack for knowing what her mistress Xena was thinking.
Arwen
Arwen is yet another fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel, “The Lord of the Rings.” It is a beautiful Welsh name that means “noble maiden.”
Beau
This name is French in origin and means handsome, pretty, or beautiful. Originally, it was probably a shortened form of other names such as Beaufort or Beauregard, still in French.
Carbine
This was a famous racehorse between the years 1885 to 1914. Carbine was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame and the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. As a name, Carbine has a powerful, western/ cowboy feel to it.
Denali
This is an Indian name to mean the great one.
Hanska
For those tall horses, Hanska is an Irish terminology for tall.
Kohana
A Swift and cunning horse.
Maka
The name depicts earth. A paint horse with its roots deep in its origin. Probably born in color as well.
Peta
A popular male horse name to mean the Golden Eagle. Fast-paced and sharp in its roles.
Weeko
A pretty name for any of your female paint horses.
Cute Paint Horse Names for Mares (Female)
Admiral
While the name means commander, it also means one with blue eyes. The American paint horse is said to have some breeds with blue eyes either one or both eyes. This name would befit that beautiful horse
Bella
A popular female pet name meaning beautiful, lady-like, or just feminine.
Charlie
From the male name Charles, you can use Charlie for your female horse’s name along with some other name to make it more feisty, especially if they’re using the name as a racehorse name.
Dawn
From the goddess of dawn, Aurora.
Daisy
If your horse has long legs, then Daisy is the name for them
Ella
This site the name of a beautiful fairy. Fast, beautiful, and brings so much joy.
Lila
A horse with a soft and silky appearance. One with a lustrous mare and curly hair.
Matilda
From the German name “Maht,” it means power, strength, or resilience. A great riding American paint horse can be called Matilda to boast of their strength
Paprika
If your American paint horse has patches of blotches of red or ginger then paprika would be a good name. The spice paprika is bold and versatile just like the paint horse.
Phoebe
From the word “Phoebus”; meaning to shine or elate. Proud hardworking paint horses can be called Phoebe
- Airebrush
- Carbee
- Cherry
- Coloratura
- Colorina
- Cowgirl
- Crayola
- Cruella
- Darling
- Domino
- Eclipse
- Etcha
- Gem / Gema
- Ink Pot
- Inka
- Iridian
- Lacey
- Mangolia / Maggie
- Mark
- Panda
- Pastel
- Pearl
- Poly
- Prisma
- Raven
- Rinky
- Snow
- Techy
- Twilight
- Yosemite
Male (Stallions & Geldings)
Abu
A Southern name from Tennessee excellent for a painted American horse.
Bullseye
All the Toy Story fans must be already familiar with Bullseye, the loyal and goofy stuffed horse.
Cisco
This is the horse from the movie Dance with Wolves. Lively and beautiful looking with a deep color coat.
Flint
The name means lucky or to have good luck.
Hubert
The name is suitable for a jumpy, always jumping horse. One you can go with to your hunting trips.
Gulliver
The name Gulliver may be best recognized as a character from the Jonathan Swift novel, “Gulliver’s Travels.” Gulliver would be a wonderful name for a horse with a big heart.
Monarch
The name means the head or king of the horse’s stables.
Philip
From the chronicles of Narnia, Philip was the talking horse ridden by Edmund. An adventurous horse with a happy temperament.
Robin
The name means a survivor or persevering fellow. The character is well seen from Robin hood.
Shamara
A common name for the American quarter horses exhibits how fast the horse is.
- Acomi
- Bruno
- Cowboy
- Cruize
- Dozer
- Foxy
- Freckle
- Gus
- Kansa
- Karl
- Lophy
- Montie
- Oreo
- Picasso
- Pitches
- Sherbet
- Skunk
- Spec
- Zoni
American Indian Names for Paint Horses
- Abitha – meaning a courageous woman
- Chepi
- Chochmingwu
- Chumani
- Galilahi – it means to be attractive or interesting to look at.
- Hialeah – it also means to be pretty.
- Kiwidinok
- Lenmana
- Keegsquaw
- Mahala – it means to be powerful or one in control.
- Nata
- Nina – it means to be strong and have the will.
- Nova
- Onatah – this means the daughter of the Earth
- Oya
- Pazi
- Pelipa – a name for the lover of horses or an endearingly for horses.
- Pules
- Sheshebens
- Sipatu
- Snana
- Tiva
- Wichahpi – it means a Star
- Wihakayda – means a little one befitting to call a foal.
- Yepa
- Yoki
- Ziracuny
Show Names for Paint Horses
- American Pharoah
- Apollo
- Assault
- Barbaro
- Big Brown
- Buchanan
- Canonero
- Elwood
- Exterminator
- Grindstone
- His Eminence
- Joe Cotton
- Judge Himes
- Lieutenant Gibson
- Lord Murphy
- Seattle Slew
- Secretariat
- Stone Street
- Twenty Grand
- Unbridled
- War Admiral
- War Emblem
- Whirlaway
- Wintergreen
Famous Paint Horse Names
- Angus
- Artax
- Black Beauty
- Bullseye
- Captain
- Champian
- Cochise
- Dover
- Flame
- Flicka
- Fury
- Gunpowder
- Hidalgo
- Khan
- Little Sebastian
- Lucky Number Slevin
- Maximus
- Mister Ed
- Pegasus
- Pepper
- Pokey
- Ringo
- Rocket
- Roheryn
- Scout
- Shadowfax
- Silver
- Spirit
- Wildfire
Other Names
- Ace
- Acoma
- Alawa
- Ama
- Apache
- Ashki
- Atlas
- Bella
- Black Pearl
- Bly
- Boomer
- Caleb
- Carby
- Cher Ami – Means a “dear friend”
- Cigar
- Cinnabar
- Cloud
- Cochise – this was used to refer to the Apache Chief. The name is associated with respect.
- Crimson
- Crystal
- Dakota – another term used to define a friend
- Dancer
- Danger
- Delta
- Domino
- Eyota – used to speak to the greatness or strength of something.
- Geronimo – this is also another respectful term used to call the Apache Leader
- Hiam
- Honi
- Jack Frost
- Kai
- Kanti
- Kasa
- Kaya
- Kele
- Kimi
- Kinta
- Kiona
- Kitchi
- Koko
- Kuruk
- Leo / Leonardo
- Lulu
- Mack
- Maikoh
- Makwa
- Mansi
- Micco
- Mika
- Misu
- Miwak / Miwok
- Mona
- Nandita
- Nikan
- Nina
- Nokosi
- Nova
- Onida
- Pamelio
- Pavita
- Peachy
- Penguin
- Ponti / Ponty
- Ranger
- Riot
- Rodio
- Ronnie
- Rusty
- Scarlet
- Sihu
- Skipetta
- Smokey
- Spark
- Takoda
- Tala
- Tallulah
- Tiva
- Una
- Vega
- Wakanda
- Winona
- Yansa
- Yoki
- Yuma
Fun & Interesting Facts about Paint Horses
Paint horses were originally referred to as Pintos, that’s way back in the 16th century, precisely 1519. A Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes spotted these tainted/ spotted horses for the first time and decided to name them pintos. Before that, they went by different names such as Paint, Skewbald, and Piebald.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, after the 1960s, horse associations such as the pinto and paint were established and the American paint horses for their official title.
Well, that’s not the only interesting thing about the American Paint Horse. Here are incredible facts about them;
They Could Have Different Eyes
Most horses have brown eyes that align with their patterned coats, but for paints, others are prone to have blue eyes. This may make them seen unique, probably more attractive, but this is an indication of a lack of pigmentation derived from their genetic predisposition.
American paint horses may lack melanin in their eyes giving them the blue eyeshade. Moreover, eye pigmentation can be seen in either both eyes or just one. So you may see a horse with one blue eye and one brown eye.
The color differences can range from cremello-patterned paints, light tan, and white, or even ice blue eyes that are lighter than the typical blue eyes that are seen in some paint horses.
Every Paint Horse is a Pinto but not All Pintos are Paint Horses
Pinto is derived from the Spanish term “Pintado” meaning painted. So this means all paint horses are painted but not all painted horses can be classified as the American Paint Horse.
While the two, pinto and paint are used interchangeably, they fall under two different associations with the paint horses falling under the APHA, which was established in the 1960s.
So in summary a pinto can be any horse breed including the Mustang, Friesian, or Appaloosa.
Uniquely Defined Coat Colors
The American paint horse can have multiple coat patterns and colors. They may seem to look alike but no two paint horses can have the same dual-colored pattern.
It’s more like DNA, every horse has its combination of colors and shapes. Each pattern differs based on the amount of white, the shape and appearance of the darker colors, head markings, and tail colors. Moreover, their coat can be numerous colors from sorrel. Gray, palomino, cremello, red dun, black, chestnut, and so on.
Nonetheless, they can come in three patterns;
- Tovero
- Overo
- Tobiano
Exceptions for those that are solid colored.
May Suffer Many Horse Diseases
The American Paint Horse is very beautiful and has been ascertained to be more than a million worldwide. However, they suffer a lot of horse diseases mainly linked to their genes. A number of these diseases include;
- Lethal white overo syndrome
- Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia(HERDA)
- Lavender Foal Disease
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency(SCID)
- Cerebellar Abiotrophy(CA)
- Glycogen Branching Enzyme Deficiency(GBED)
- Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa(JER)
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