Horse breeds can be identified in several different ways. Color is one example. Horse breeds such as the Appaloosa and American Paint Horse have distinct color patterns and markings. Both breed organizations provide examples of these coat patterns and markings. Another way to determine what breed of horse you own would be to look at its pedigree. If your horse is registered with a breed organization, it should have a set of registration papers with an abbreviated pedigree on file. If your horse is not registered with a specific breed organization, this becomes more difficult. For additional information on how to tell what breed a horse is, see: