Pertaining to residential covenants and restrictions......

Can a neighborhood covenant be enforced if there is no homeowners association to enforce it? Can it be enforced if each owner in a given subdivision signed and recorded a copy along with their deed when purchasing? Can it be enforced if one was simply drawn up when a development began but was never filed?

Asking for my in-laws because I only know that in Louisiana a C&R doc is only good if there is an HOA to back it up as far as I know.