While the term "Paint" refers to a specific breed of horse with distinct bloodlines, "Pinto" refers to any horse with a discernable colour patterns, Tobiano, Overo, Tovero,. White markings can appear on horses of many breeds (and mix of breeds) around the world. The occurrence of these patterns tends to be more infrequent for those breeds that have historically disallowed the registration of horses deemed to have "excessive white" on their heads and bodies, or where these traits were simply deemed undesirable. This applies to many breeds of European origin.

Most coloured patterns in non-Paint breeds and mixed breed horses result from the Sabino gene(s). However, Tovero, Frame Overos and even Splashed Whites do occur. Colourful Arabs (Pintabians), Saddlebreds, Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, Morgans are among those breeds where a pinto version is in demand, at least in the US. Some such breeders are able to charge a premium for these showy horses -- provided that quality foundation bloodlines and correct conformation are also there.

There are other types of markings on horses that are genetically passed on. The Appaloosa probably has the most recognizable of these various patterns, but there are others.