Horse Colors & Patterns Guide: Chart, Genetics & FAQs (with Pictures)

Last updated: May 17, 2025

By: Miles HenryFact Checked

Horse colors are as fascinating as they are varied, revealing a blend of genetics, breed history, and natural artistry-from classic bay and black to rare brindle and champagne. As a lifelong equestrian and horse color genetics enthusiast, I’ve spent years unraveling foal coats and studying color inheritance. My journey inspired this guide, crafted for new owners wondering why their colt is changing hue or breeders planning vibrant foals.

Dive in for a downloadable horse color chart, vivid photos, clear genetic insights, and tips to identify even the trickiest shades—all backed by research from UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (UC Davis VGL) and the American Paint Horse Association. Share your horse’s hue in the comments and let’s explore the rainbow of equine colors together!

Base Horse Colors

Every horse starts with a base color, shaped by core genes. Let’s meet the big three — bay, black, and chestnut — and explore how genetic mechanisms shape them in our Science of Horse Coat Colors: Deep Dive.

Bay

Bay horses have a reddish-brown body, black mane, tail, and legs. The Agouti gene keeps black to the “points.” Think Thoroughbreds thundering down tracks.

Black

Solid black coat, mane, and tail. Needs a strong “E” gene and no Agouti. Friesians shine jet-black in shows.

Chestnut (Sorrel)

Chestnut horses have red or copper bodies, manes, and tails, sometimes with flaxen (light) accents. A recessive “e” gene skips black. Quarter Horses often sport this fiery hue.

Dilutions & Modifiers

Dilution genes and modifiers tweak base colors, creating golden or smoky shades. Here’s how they paint the coat, as detailed in our Palomino Horse Guide.

Palomino

A golden body with a white mane and tail, caused by one Cream gene on a chestnut base. Palominos like this are often seen shining in parades, especially in breeds like the Quarter Horse.

Buckskin

Tan/gold body, black points. One Cream gene on bay. Mustangs often roam with this rugged look. Learn more in our Buckskin Horse Guide.

Cremello and Perlino

Cremello and perlino are striking dilute colors resulting from the action of the cream gene (CCr), and are often referred to as “double dilutes” because they inherit two copies of this gene. The cream gene has an incomplete dominant effect, meaning one copy creates a single dilute (like palomino or buckskin), while two copies produce a more extreme dilution.

• Cremello: This color occurs when a horse with a chestnut (ee) base coat inherits two copies of the cream gene (CCr/CCr). The result is a horse with a light cream or near-white coat, pink skin, and blue eyes. The mane and tail are typically white or cream.
• Perlino: A perlino is produced when a horse with a bay (E_A_) base coat inherits two copies of the cream gene (CCr/CCr). These horses also have a light cream or off-white coat and pink skin, but their mane, tail, and legs (points) may retain a slightly darker, often peach or coffee-colored, hue. They also have blue eyes.
• Smoky Cream: Similar to cremello and perlino, the smoky cream is the result of a double cream dilution (CCr/CCr) on a black (E_aa) base coat. These horses have a light cream or white coat, pink skin, and blue eyes, and can be visually difficult to distinguish from cremellos and perlinos without genetic testing.

Smoky Black

A subtle single-dilute shade, Smoky Black pairs one Cream gene (Cr+) with a black base (E+ aa). It often looks like a faded black, so genetic testing may be needed to confirm. Dive deeper in our Color Genetics section.

Dun & Grullo

Dun horses are tan or grayish, with a dorsal stripe and zebra-like markings. The Dun gene adds primitive vibes, seen in Norwegian Fjords.

Champagne

Shimmery gold, amber eyes. The Champagne gene sparkles in Tennessee Walkers.

Silver Dapple

Chocolate body, silver mane/tail. The Silver gene dazzles in Rocky Mountain Horses.

Modifiers

• Sooty: Dark shading on toplines, like a smoky chestnut.
• Pangaré/Mealy: Pale muzzle or belly, common in Belgians.
• Flaxen: Light mane/tail on chestnuts, seen in Haflingers.
• Mushroom: Taupe shade in Shetlands, super rare.

Special Colors and Patterns

Some horses flaunt standout patterns or rare hues, thanks to unique genes. These dazzlers steal the show, as explored in our Horse Color Genetics Explained.

Gray

Born dark, lightens with age. The Gray gene turns Arabians snowy over time. Learn more in our Gray Horse Guide.

Pinto (Paint)

Bold white and colored patches. Tobiano or Overo genes create Paints, a breed with Quarter Horse roots. In the UK, these patterns are called Piebald (black and white) or Skewbald (any other color with white). Learn about Paint Horse colors and patterns in our detailed guide.

Appaloosa

Spotted coat, mottled skin, striped hooves. The Leopard Complex gene dots Appaloosas. See more interesting information in our Appaloosa Horse Guide.

Roan

Roan horses have a mix of white and colored hairs. The Roan gene blends hues in Quarter Horses and other breeds.

Rare Gems

• Brindle: Striped, tiger-like coat, ultra-rare in Mustangs.
• Pearl: Creamy sheen, seen in Andalusians.
• Dominant White: Pure white, rare in Arabians.
• Rabicano: White ticking at flanks, found in Thoroughbreds.
  Preserving these colors supports genetic diversity, vital for horse health, per the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association).

Color Genetics

Genes are the paintbrushes of horse coat colors. The MC1R gene sets red (chestnut) or black (bay, black), while Agouti steers black to points. A 2025 study found 30% of Saddlebreds carry the Cream gene, sparking palominos (Ludwig et al., 2025). Dilution genes like Dun, Champagne, and Silver add stripes or shimmer, while pattern genes (Tobiano, Leopard Complex) splash spots or patches.

Rare modifiers like mushroom (Shetlands) or rabicano (Thoroughbreds) add flair. Curious about speed genetics too? Check our Thoroughbred Genetics guide, backed by UC Davis VGL.

Color Changes With Age

Horse colors shift over time. Gray horses lighten, turning dark foals snowy by age 10, common in Lipizzaners. Foals often sport fuzzy, lighter coats—chestnut babies may look pale. Sun bleaching fades black or bay to reddish-brown, especially in summer. These changes can trick identification, so recheck as horses age.

Quick Reference: Health Risks Linked to Horse Colors & Patterns

While most horse colors are simply beautiful, a few are linked to specific health risks. Here’s what to know:

Color/Pattern	Health Risk(s)	Prevention/Notes
Frame Overo (Pinto) 🧬	Lethal White Syndrome (OLWS) ⚠️	Test for OLWS gene before breeding
Gray 🧬	Melanoma (esp. after age 15) ⚠️	Monitor for tumors, esp. under tail/genitals
Appaloosa (Leopard Complex) 🧬	Moon blindness (ERU), Night blindness (CSNB) ⚠️	LP/LP horses at highest risk; genetic testing
Splashed White (Pinto) 🧬	Congenital deafness ⚠️	Test for splashed white gene variants
Dominant White 🧬	Congenital deafness (some breeds) ⚠️	Genetic testing available
Cremello, Perlino, Double Dilutes	Photosensitivity, sunburn 🌞	Provide shade, fly masks/sunscreen
Champagne, Light-skinned Dilutes	Increased sun sensitivity 🌞	Monitor for burns, protect light areas

Now that you’ve explored horse colors, download our chart to keep these shades at your fingertips.

Breed-Specific Color Restrictions

Certain horse breeds have specific color restrictions for registration, often reflecting the breed’s historical development and desired characteristics. Here’s a quick reference table:

Breed	Allowed Colors	Disallowed Colors
Friesians	Black only	Chestnut, bay
Thoroughbreds	Bay, black, chestnut	Appaloosa, pinto
Arabians	Bay, chestnut, black, gray, roan	Dun, champagne (purebreds)*
Paints	Pinto patterns	Solid colors (no white)
Appaloosas	Spotted patterns	Solid colors (no spots)
*Note: Half-Arabians may exhibit champagne if crossed with breeds carrying the gene.

Horse Colors Chart

Want a quick way to spot horse coat colors? Download our printable Horse Color Chart, packed with color swatches, genetic codes, and breed examples like bay Thoroughbreds and spotted Appaloosas. Preview it below to see shades from chestnut to champagne.

Printable Horse Color Genetics Chart: 15 Common Coat Colors with Swatches & Codes

horse_color_chart (7)Download

Now that you’ve seen the chart, let’s learn how to identify these colors on your horse in the next section.

Identify Coat Colors

Spotting a horse’s color can be a puzzle! Here’s how to crack it:

1. Check the Base: Is the body reddish (chestnut), reddish with black legs (bay), or solid black? Dark bay vs. black is tricky—look for reddish hairs at the muzzle or flanks on bays.
2. Spot Dilutions: Golden coats (palomino, buckskin) or creamy shades (cremello) mean a dilution gene is at play.
3. Find Patterns: White patches (pinto), spots (appaloosa), or mixed white hairs (roan) add flair.
4. Note Extras: Sooty shading darkens toplines, flaxen lightens manes, or pangaré pales bellies.
5. Consider Age: Foals may be fuzzy, and older horses gray out.

Try our interactive tool: Select “golden body, white mane” to see palomino, or “spotted rump” for appaloosa. It’s mobile-friendly and fun! Compare photos below to spot a sooty chestnut vs. a bay.

FAQs on Horse Colors and Genetics

Curious about horse colors, genetics, or identifying tricky patterns? Explore our most frequently asked questions below for quick answers and expert insights.

Quiz

Think you’ve mastered horse coat colors?
Test your knowledge with this quick quiz! From base shades to rare patterns, see how much you remember—and learn something new along the way.

Wrap-Up

Horse coat colors are more than just beautiful—they tell a story of genetics, history, and personality. Whether you’re identifying your foal’s shade or breeding for color, understanding coat patterns makes all the difference.

📥 Download our free Horse Color Chart, try the interactive quiz, and tell us in the comments: What’s the most unique coat color you’ve seen—or what color is your own horse?

🐴 Keep exploring with our Palomino Horse Guide or dive into Thoroughbred Genetics to see how color connects to performance and pedigree.