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A visual guide to equine colors and patterns

Horse Color Genetics

Basic Colors

The starting point for horses is the color of their wild ancestors, bay dun. Based on the appearance of other wild equids, the assumption is that they also had the mealy (or pangare) pattern. Changes to the system that produces bay results in black and chestnut horses.

Wild Color

Dun and the non-duns

the TBX3 gene

Bay and point patterns

MC1R (Extension) and ASIP (Agouti) genes

Mealy patterning

gene(s) responsible not yet identified

Basic Color Variations

Black

the ASIP (Agouti) gene

Chestnut

the MC1R (Extension) gene

Flaxen

gene(s) responsible not yet identified

Sootiness

gene(s) responsible not yet identified

Shade and intensity

gene(s) responsible not yet identified

Basic Genetics

Terminology

simple explanations for the common scientific terms

Epistasis

how unrelated colors can sometimes"hide" other colors

Pigment colors

red, black and structural colors

Mutations

new colors and patterns

We are always looking for interesting examples of different colors. If you have taken pictures of colorful horses and are willing to let them be used on this site, please get in touch!

equinetapestry@gmail.com

Color Modifiers

These are the factors that alter the basic colors described in the first column. Factors that produce areas of the coat without pigment (white patterns) appear in the column to the right.

Pigment Loss

Greying

the STX17 gene

Other progressive patterns

various causes

Pigment Dilutions

Changes to the system that reduce the amount of pigment produced.

Cream and related dilutions

the SLC45A2 (MATP) gene

Champagne

the SLC36A1 gene

the PMEL17 gene

Mushroom

the MFSD12 gene

Globrunn

gene(s) responsible not yet identified

Color shifting (bronzing)

gene(s) responsible not yet identified

Miscellaneous

This section is for things that don't neatly fit in the other categories.

Mismarks

markings (colored or white) that may not have a genetic basis

Eye color

colors other than brown

Coat variations

curly coats and hairlessness

Environmental alterations

artificial and natural changes

Recoloring

Factors that add color back to areas left white by patterning genes.

Belton spotting

gene responsible not yet identified

"Reversed" markings

badger faces, colored socks

White Patterns

This section includes the colors created by areas of the coat without pigment. Included in this are roans and forms of white ticking (which have individual hairs without pigment) and pintos and appaloosas.

White Hairs

Roans

the KIT gene (possibly others)

Rabicano and white ticking

gene(s) responsible not yet identified

Pintos

Tobianos

near the KIT gene

Sabino phenotypes

Sabino1, W-series and others (KIT gene)

Splashed white

MITF and Pax3 genes

Frame overo

EDNRB gene

Manchado

gene responsible not yet identified

Appaloosas

Leopard complex

the TRPM1 gene

Pattern1 (leopard)

the RFWD3 gene

Other patterns

genes responsible not yet identified

Pintaloosas

various gene combinations

White Markings

Face and leg white

MITF and KIT genes (and possibly others)

White Reduction

These are the factors that change the amount of white present on the horse. They do this by suppressing the expression of patterns.

Red and black

interactions with the MC1R (Extension) gene

Cryptic

proposed gene, location not determined

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