<P> The radio series identified Tonto as a chief's son in the Potawatomi nation . The Potawatomi originated in the Great Lakes region, but in the 19th century, most had been relocated to the Southwestern states . Their regalia is different from that worn by Tonto . The choice to make Tonto a Potawatomi seems to come from station owner George Trendle's youth in Mullett Lake, Michigan . Located in the northern part of the Midwest, Michigan is the traditional territory of the Potawatomi, and many local institutions use Potawatomi names . Other sources indicate that Camp Kee Mo Sah Bee belonged to the father - in - law of the show's director, James Jewell . According to author David Rothel, who interviewed Jewell a few months before his death, Kee Mo Sah Bee and Tonto were the only two words that Jewell remembered from those days . Tonto's name may have been inspired by the name of Tonto Basin, Arizona . In the Fran Striker books, Tonto is described as a "half - breed". </P> <P> In the 2013 theatrical feature film of The Lone Ranger, Tonto is depicted as a Comanche tribesman . </P> <P> Tonto first rode a horse named "White Feller" (White Fella / Fellah). When the 1938 Republic movie serial The Lone Ranger was being filmed, it was thought that having two white horses would be confusing, so the producers made "White Feller" a pinto horse, presumably on the theory that, being partly white, a pinto could still be named "White Feller". The radio series, noting that the pinto in the film had gone over well with audiences, decided that Tonto's mount would henceforth be a pinto . For several episodes, Tonto's new horse went unnamed, referred to only as "the paint horse" or simply "Paint". Eventually the name "Scout" was adopted . </P> <P> The portrayal of Tonto has been seen by some Native Americans and others as degrading, notably by Native American author and poet Sherman Alexie . Tonto spoke in a pidgin, saying things like, "That right, Kemo Sabe", or "Him say man ride over ridge on horse". </P>

What was the name of tonto's horse