Equine coat color genetics determine a horse's coat color. There are many different coat color possibilities, but all colors are produced by the action of only a few genes.
Try pressing the genetic buttons to the left of the horse below and see how they all interact!
Base
Black
Forms black pigment in skin and hair.
Simple Dominant
Modifier
Agouti
Restricts black pigment, usually to the horses "points."
Grey
Causes the horse to grey with age similar to human hair.
Dilutes
Champagne
A rare but dominant dilution gene.
Silver
Dilutes only black. Has stronger effect on mane and tail.
Cream/Pearl
Incomplete dominant dilution gene, affects mostly red.
Dun
A dilution gene which reveals "primitive" markings.
White Patterns & Markings
Sabino 1
Low irregular white patches with white hairs mixed into the coat.
Dominant White
Restricts pigment, leaving the horse white from birth.
Tobiano
Creates large, rounded dark spots on a white background.
Overo
Creates small, irregular white spots on a dark background.
Splashed White
Makes the horse look as though it was dunked in white paint.
Appaloosa
Enables Appaloosa spotting.
Causes varnish roan pattern.
Leopard Spotting Pattern
Leopard spotting, requires Appaloosa.
Incomplete dominant.
Chestnut
*Capital letters indicate DOMINANT variants and lower-case letters indicate RECESSIVE variants. Some of the color variants below are not yet genetically discovered but known to be heritable. More discoveries to come!
**This is a legacy tool designed by Jennifer Hoffman. Not all of the colors/variants shown are fully mapped. For a current demonstration of known/mapped variants only, please see Build-a-Horse.