Like people, horses are found in different colors — and like humans, horses were discriminated against because of the color of their coat.

Before the 1960s, "painted" horses were considered inferior to those of solid color. Painted horses are a mixed-color breed deriving from a blend of the quarter horse and thoroughbred blood lines.

It wasn't until 1962 that a handful of people decided to change ranchers' perspectives on painted horses by forming the American Paint Horse Association.

APHA gives painted-horse enthusiasts an opportunity to see what they can do in different events such as roping and trail courses. The events are meant to show the horse's skills.

Marla Fadel, Utah APHA show secretary, said for years painted horses were considered outcasts and horsemen wouldn't breed them. A lot of people thought if a horse had white feet, they were considered weaker than if they had dark feet.

"Paints weren't considered as good a quality," she said.

Jerry Circelli, APHA director of public relations and marketing, said the association wanted to prove painted horses could do things just like any other horse. APHA has grown, and painted horses have been recognized as equals to quarter horses and thoroughbreds.

APHA president Carl Parker said there are 890,000 registered painted horses and 102,000 members in the association.

Parker moved to Utah in 1988 and joined the association shortly after that. Since then he has been on the board of directors and is currently president of the association. He has not only been promoting the association in the states, but has been an ambassador overseas, including the Dominican Republic, Brazil and Russia,and will also visit Germany this month. He said, overall, APHA has been well received by other countries.

Those who have worked for APHA love what they do they said. Fadel said she got involved partially because of the horses. She said the association was meant to promote the painted horse, but it's the people who have made it such a great organization.

"It gets in your blood, and the people in the association are a great group," Fadel said. "They're beautiful horses and it's not just a bunch of people showing their horses — it's like a big family."

APHA started with one woman's love for a painted stallion she had growing up. Rebecca Tyler was 10 years old when she got her first horse, which she called Chief. He was her favorite horse during that time of her life.

After three years she decided to sell him to a neighbor so the neighbor's children could learn how to ride. She believed her neighbors would keep Chief forever, but they sold her painted stallion.