Pit bulls pre-date the United States - they were bred in England and were brought to America by the settlers.
The Pit Bull is, without a doubt, the most misunderstood dog breed. In fact, one of the most misunderstood things about it is that it's not really a dog breed at all. Pit Bull is actually a general term that means different things to different people. To some, it's simply a synonym for the American Pit Bull Terrier. To others, it refers to a group of breeds that includes the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, and possibly other similar-looking dogs.