A handful of dedicated horsemen put a new association’s wheels in motion with a fateful meeting in February 1962.

In the 1960s, the stage was set for a new breed of horse to finally gain a foothold and thrust itself onto the national and international equestrian stage. Paint Horses themselves were not new to the equine industry—the colorful pinto horses had for decades been staple stablemates across the United States, favorites among some horsemen for their flashy coats and versatility, while shunned by traditionalist Quarter Horse breeders. “Cropout” horses—those of Quarter Horse descent born with excessive white markings on their coats, by which they were refused registration with the AQHA—along with other “painted” stock became the foundation of a new breed.