Which protocol is typically associated with email message formatting and graphics?

B is the correct answer because HTML, which stands for HyperText Markup Language, is the standard markup language used for creating and designing documents on the web. When it comes to email message formatting, HTML is extensively used to format the content, incorporate links, and display graphics, ensuring that messages appear visually appealing and are easy to read. This capability allows for rich formatting elements such as fonts, colors, images, and other multimedia features that enhance the recipient's experience.

Other options consist of protocols that serve different purposes. SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, is primarily used for sending emails from client to server or between servers but does not deal with how the content of the email is displayed. FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is used for transferring files between machines, and SSH, or Secure Shell, is a network protocol that provides a secure way to access a computer over an unsecured network. Neither FTP nor SSH is relevant to email formatting or displaying graphics. Thus, HTML is distinctly positioned as the protocol associated with email message formatting and graphics.