Both were found in Africa.
Brian Barczyk of BHB Reptiles paid to have it imported to the US, and proved it to be genetic. That's how it originated.
Similar story with the Lessers. Field collectors that have contact with big breeders in the US send updates to the breeders, who then decide if they want to pay a large amount of money to import it to the country.
Sometimes these new morphs are already proven, and don't need to be proven here in the US. Such as the Bongo ball python.