A spotted horse, defined as a kind of horse whose coat bears large patches or white or other colors, is called a pinto horse. Pinto is not a breed of horse but rather a type of coloring that some horses are bred to have.
The patterns on a pinto horse are visually recognizable and genetically distinct from other color patterns. Breeders often select carefully for color and pattern and avoid crossing two color profiles, such as a pinto and horses with leopard spots like the Appaloosa, so as not to change the shape and appeal of the patches of color.
