Coat Colours and Patterns

Frame Overo Factor Horse (OLWS)

Frame Overo and Overo Lethal White Syndrome (OLWS) The Overo White Factor is an allele responsible for a splashed white pattern in horses, but breeding two carriers together can be risky as it leads to the death of homozygous offspring. This allele is caused by a semi-dominant mutation in the...

A-Locus Horse (Agouti)

A-Locus (Agouti) In horses, black coat colour is a trait linked to the gene for the Agouti Signalling Protein (ASIP), also known as the Agouti Locus (A-Locus). Normally, ASIP is in part responsible for the distribution of dark and light pigment across the body. For instance, black colouration in wild...

Appaloosa Patterns Horse (PATN1, CNSB, Leopard Spotting)

Appaloosa Patterns Horse (PATN1, CNSB, Leopard Spotting) The leopard-like spotting pattern distinctive of the Appaloosa breed – a white coat flecked with small, dark spots – is referred to as Leopard Complex Spotting (LP) or Appaloosa Pattern. Several breeds are known to have the Appaloosa coat colour: this are amongst...

Coat Colour Introduction Horses

Introduction to equine coat colours In horses, coat colour is a complex trait influenced by a variety of genes interacting with each other. Mutations in these genes (or loci*) can interact in intricate ways, leading to a diverse range of coat colours and patterns. The original coat colour of the...

E-Locus Horse (Chestnut)

E-Locus Horse (Chestnut) One of the most fundamental genes involved in the formation of a horse's coat colour is the Extension Locus (E-Locus). The E-Locus corresponds to the gene for melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), which is involved in the regulation of pigment production. Active MC1R causes a cell to “switch”...

Cr-locus - Cream Dilution (Cremello, Pearl & Snowdrop)

Cr-locus - Cream Dilution (Cremello, Pearl & Snowdrop) Coat colour in horses is controlled by a wide range of different loci working together. Modifications that can occur include dilutions of the base coat colour. There are multiple genes known to have this effect and one of them is the solute...

Champagne Horse

Champagne Champagne dilution in horses is caused by a dominant mutation to the gene for solute carrier family 36 member 1 (SLC36A1). The Champagne dilution allele lightens the coat colour of the horse by diluting both dark and light pigment. Red hairs become gold, and black hairs become brown. The...

Dun Dilution Horse

Dun Dilution Dun dilution is a coat colour pattern in horses caused by a specific gene known as the Dun gene or D gene. It affects both dark and light pigment in the hair, resulting in unique colour variations. The Dun gene acts on the base coat colours such as...

Silver Horse

Silver Horse Silver coat colour dilution, known as Silver Dapple, is caused by a mutation that inhibits the production of the dark pigment (eumelanin) in the horse’s hair. This results in black and bay horses having a silvery-grey or flaxen/white mane and tail. Silver Black horses have a dark brown...

Splashed White (MITF, PAX3)

Splashed White (MITF, PAX3) In horses, there is a broad variety of white spotting patterns. Many mutations in various genes are responsible for a wide variety of patterns. Splashed White (SW) is one type of white spotting. SW-variants have their origin in mutations in the MITF and PAX3 genes. The...

White Spotting Horse (KIT, Tobiano, Sabino and Roan)

White Spotting (KIT, Tobiano, Sabino and Roan) White Spotting or Dominant White (W) is a collective name for a series of white patterns in horses. These patterns can vary from a few white markings on the body or limbs to an almost complete lack of pigment over the entire body....

G-Locus Horse (Grey)

G-Locus Horse (Grey) In horses, the gene for syntaxin 17 (STX17) is known as the Grey Locus (G-locus). A dominant mutation to this gene results in the gradual development of a grey coat. The mutation causes progressive depigmentation (fading) of the hair and is considered to be the “strongest” of...

Brindle Horse

Brindle Brindle coat colour and texture in horses is distinguished by vertical stripes on the coat with a stripe-like change in texture along the neck, back, hindquarters and upper legs. A brindled coat may show a change in pigmentation. This phenotype, called Brindle 1 (BR1), can occur on any colour...

Mushroom

Mushroom dilution The Mushroom dilution is a coat colour caused by the red pigment (phaeomelanin) is not produced. This results in red-based horses (chestnut, palomino) appearing as a sepia-tone of brown/light brown. Bay or buckskin horses also lose the red tone in their body hair. Mushroom is unique to Shetland...

Knowledge Base