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Equine Genetics
Basic Coat color inheritance
Kelly Melvin, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Animal Science
Jennie Ivey, PhD, PAS, Assistant Professor and Extension Equine Specialist, Department of Animal Science
Lacey Johnston, MS, PAS, Equine Lecturer, Department of Animal Science

Special Credit: Victoria Alphen and Erin Roberts, created in part for ANSC 496 Equine Industries

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance A
Horses come in many colors, all of which are controlled
by genetic variation in one or more genes within the
horse’s genetic makeup. Properly identifying coat
colors and knowing how each of these genes influence
coat color is important to consider when breeding
responsibly. Knowing and applying a horse’s coat color
genetics in combination with other genetic factors
when selecting breeding stock can help decrease
certain diseases, overpopulation and unwanted horses,
while ultimately improving the foal’s conformation, use
and longevity. The focus of this publication is to review
basic coat color descriptions and associated genes that
are responsible for producing each color.
 Coat Color Descriptions

Coat Color Descriptions

Properly identifying a horse’s coat color through
visual evaluation is an initial step to determine the
potential genetic makeup of an individual. Use the
guide and images below to assess basic coat colors
common among most horse breeds.

White Black
Absence of pigment in the skin Black horses have black
and hair. Generally, white horses pigmentation and will not
have pink skin; a white coat, bleach in the sun.
mane and tail; and light hooves.
White horses most likely have
dark brown eyes but may have
blue eyes.

Grey
Grey horses will have dark
pigmented skin and can be born
displaying any other coat color,
except white. Grey colored horses
will permanently fade to gray over
time. Fleabitten greys maintain
tiny areas of the original coat
color amongst grey coat hairs.
Chestnut Bay
Chestnut horses have red Bay horses have a brown body,
pigmentation which can vary from which can vary in shades, and
light (sorrel) to very dark (liver) in black points including the ears,
color. Chestnut colored horse’s legs, muzzle, mane and tail.
mane and tail may be similar to
the body color, or vary to lighter
or darker shades.

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance 1
Coat Color Descriptions

Dun Palomino
The dun color alters the horse’s Palomino horses will display a
base body color to display light (flaxen) mane and tail with
primitive markings on legs and varying shades of golden body
shoulders, such as leg barring, hair, resulting from a dilution of
shoulder striping, cobwebbing the chestnut body color.
throughout the coat and a dorsal
stripe. The dun gene can produce
a bay dun (pictured, bay base
color), red dun (chestnut base
color) or grulla (black base color).
Buckskin
Horses with buckskin coloration
will display black points on the
mane, tail, ears and legs, and
a golden coat that can vary in
shade. Buckskin color results
from a dilution of a bay body
color base.

Champagne Roan
Depending on base color, Roan horse coats have a mixture
champagne colored horses can of 50 percent white hairs and
range from gold (above) to dark 50 percent any base color.
tan, and tend to have amber A red or strawberry roan (pictured
eyes. A dilution of a black body above) will have a chestnut base.
base results in classic champagne Roaning over a black base is
color, while chestnut base horses called a blue roan, and over a
dilute to a gold champagne, bay base is a bay roan.
and bay horses dilute to amber
champagne.

2 Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
 Base Coat Colors and Lack of Pigment

Words to Know
Gene: A unit of heredity which
is transferred from a parent
to offspring and determines a
characteristic of the offspring
Allele: A variant form of a gene
Locus: A fixed position on a Chromosome 1 Chromosome 2

chromosome where a gene is

located
Heterozygous: Has two Locus
different alleles of a gene
Allele
Homozygous: Has two of the
same alleles of a gene
A a
Genotype: The genetic makeup
of an individual, created by the
combination of alleles unique to
each individual
Phenotype: The observable
or physical characteristics an
individual displays as a result of
their genotype
Dominant: The result of a Genotype
dominant allele expressed over
A A A a a A a a
other alleles within a phenotype
Recessive: An allele that can be
masked by a dominant allele; In
order for a recessive allele to be
AA Aa aa
expressed in a phenotype, there Homozygous Heterozygous Homozygous
must be two recessive alleles Dominant Recessive
inherited
Incomplete dominance: An
intermediate form of inheritance
in which a heterozygous Phenotype
Black Black Red
genotype displays a mixture of
phenotypic traits encoded by Dominant Recessive
each allele
Epistatic: The interaction
between different genes in
which a dominant gene can
mask the phenotypic expression
of other genes

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance 3
Base Coat Colors and Lack of Pigment

Base Coat Colors

and Lack of Pigment
Two main pigments create all equine coat
colors. No matter the coat color that is seen,
all horses start with a base of either red or
black. Horses with base black pigment,
or eumelanin, will display either a black or
bay coat color. Horses with red base color
display the pigment pheomelanin, will have
no eumelanin, and thus display a red coat
color. Other coat colors are due to lack of
pigmentation, dilutions or other patterning
genes and their expression.

White-Based Colors Phenotype

There are two white-base colors: white and grey. Both the white
and grey genes are called epistatic, meaning a dominant allele White Grey
for either gene will mask other phenotypes, or coat colors.

Genotype
White: White horses lack Grey: Grey horses can be
any pigmentation in the born any color other than
skin and hair. White horses white, and as they age grey
will display pink skin; a hairs will appear and lighten.
white hair coat, mane, tail Grey coat color is due to the
and hooves; and darker presence of the dominant
brown eyes. White is a allele, G, at the grey locus.
dominant trait, W, at the The genotype of a horse G G G g
white locus. The genotype with this allele present will
for white horses must be be either GG or Gg. All non- W w
heterozygous dominant, Ww, grey horses are gg.
as homozygous dominant,
WW, is thought to cause
Ww GG Dominant Gg
early embryonic loss. Heterozygous Homozygous Heterozygous

4 Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
 Base Coat Colors and Lack of Pigment

Extension and Agouti

The most basic horse colors are controlled by Agouti Gene (A):
two loci, Extension (E) and Agouti (A). Every
The Agouti loci controls the distribution of
non-white horse is going to have either a
black pigment on the horse. The dominant
black or red base coat color. These loci control
allele, A, restricts black pigmentation to
the black, bay and chestnut coloration.
points on the horse’s body to tips of ears,
legs, mane and tail. The recessive allele,
Extension, “Black’” gene (E): a, allows black pigment to be expressed
Extension has two alleles, E and e, that throughout the body. In chestnut horses,
encode for black or red pigments. it is difficult to determine which alleles the
horse possesses, unless the genotype of the
Black Genotype: can be either EE or Ee parents is known, since they do not possess
Bay Genotype: can be either EE or Ee black pigmentation.

Chestnut Genotype: ee Black Agouti Genotype: aa

Bay Agouti Genotype: AA or Aa
Chestnut Agouti Genotype: AA, Aa, or aa

Allele Abbreviations Dominant Alleles

White: W is the dominant white allele W G E A

w is the recessive white allele
Grey: G is the dominant grey allele
g is the recessive grey allele
Extension: E is the dominant extension allele
e is the recessive extension allele
w g e a
Agouti: A is the dominant agouti allele
a is the recessive agouti allele
Recessive Alleles

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance 5
Base Color Variations: Dilution and Roaning

Base Color Variations:

Dilution and Roaning

Cream Dilutions: An allele of the C gene, Dun Dilution: The dominant allele, D, dilutes
named C , dilutes the coat color through
Cr
black and red pigmentation and leaves the points
incomplete dominance. A horse with no dilution unaffected. Both genotypes of DD and Dd will
would have a genotype of CC. Horses with only produce dun horses, whereas dd, the homozygous
one cream dilution allele (CCCr) include palomino recessive gene, will produce non-dun horses. Dun
(chestnut base), buckskin (bay base) or smoky horses will have primitive markings, such as a dorsal
black (black base). Horses with two cream dilution stripe and leg barring, shoulder striping, cobwebbing
alleles (CcrCcr) include cremello (chestnut base), throughout the coat and a dorsal stripe. The dun
perlino (bay base) and smoky cream (black base). gene can produce a bay dun, red dun or Grulla. A
homozygous dominant dun (DD) does not display an
Palomino horses possess one cream gene, and will enhanced effect as seen with cream dilution.
display a lighter (flaxen) mane and tail with varying
shades of golden body hair. Horses that have a Roan: The allele Rn produces Roan horses with a
chestnut base coat with two copies of the cream allele mixture of 50 percent white hairs, with the remaining
(CCrCCr) are called cremello. They will have cream- 50 percent being any base color. The head, mane,
colored, diluted body hair which can sometimes be tail and lower legs can be solid in color and still
mistaken as white, pink skin and blue eyes. be roan. All Roan horses produce a genotype of Rnrn
or RnRn, while all non-roan horses are rnrn.
Buckskin horses also have one cream allele diluting
the bay base coat. Buckskins retain their black points Champagne Dilution: Controlled by the dominant
on the mane, tail and legs while exhibiting a dark allele, Ch, at the champagne locus, it dilutes the
golden body that can vary in shades. A bay horse with body and the points. These horses will have a golden
two copies of the cream allele are called perlino. The coat with a range of shades depending on the
perlino body hair is best described as ivory. original base coat color. They will have pink skin that
freckles with age as well as blue eyes that turn to
Horses that have a black base color with one cream amber as they age.
allele are called smoky black. Two cream alleles will
produce a smoky cream coat. In some cases, cream
dilution will have a very minor impact on black
pigment, so it can be difficult to determine if the
cream dilution allele is present.

Allele Abbreviations: Dominant Alleles

Ccr D Rn Ch
Cream: CCr is the dominant cream allele
C is the recessive cream allele
Dun: D is the dominant dun allele
d is the recessive dun allele
Roan: Rn is the dominant roan allele
rn is the recessive roan allele C d rn n
Champagne: Ch is the dominant champagne allele
n is the recessive champagne allele Recessive Alleles

6 Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
 Reading Genotypes

Reading Genotypes
When talking about coat color genetics, it is
important to be able to read and identify the
genotype of a coat color. When written out,
the genotype is structured in a specific order
as certain genes will mask others. In order,
the genotype should be written, White (W),
Grey (G), Extension (E), Agouti (A), Cream
Dilution (C/CCr ), Dun (D) and Roan (Rn).

For example, if a horse is white, Ww, then

it masks the expression of other genes
making the rest of the genotype difficult to
determine. The examples below illustrate
the genetic code possibilities for each gene
discussed in this publication.

Coat Color Examples

Chestnut Genotype Bay Dun Genotype Red Roan Genotype

Not white: ww Not white: ww Not white: ww

Not grey: gg Not grey: gg Not grey: gg
Not black: ee Not chestnut: Ee or EE Not Black: ee
Agouti: AA, Aa, or aa Agouti: AA or Aa Agouti: AA, Aa, or aa
Not cream: CC Not Cream: CC Not cream: CC
Not dun: dd Dun: DD or Dd Not dun: dd
Not roan: rnrn Not roan: rnrn Roan: RnRn or Rnrn
Genotype: ww, gg, ee, Genotype: ww, gg, EE or Ee, Genotype: ww, gg, ee,
AA, Aa, or aa, AA or Aa, AA, Aa, or aa,
CC, dd, rnrn CC, DD or Dd, rnrn CC, dd, RnRn or Rnrn

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance 7
Reading Genotypes

Cream Gene Dilution Examples

Chestnut Genotype Palomino Genotype Cremello Genotype

Not white: ww Not white: ww Not white: ww

Not grey: gg Not grey: gg Not grey: gg
Not black: ee Not black: ee Not black: ee
Agouti: AA, Aa, or aa Agouti: AA, Aa, or aa Agouti: AA, Aa, or aa
Not cream: CC Cream: CCCr Cream: CCrCCr
Not dun: dd Not dun: dd Not dun: dd
Not roan: rnrn Not roan: rnrn Not roan: rnrn
Genotype: ww, gg, ee, Genotype: ww, gg, ee, Genotype: ww, gg, ee,
AA, Aa, or aa, AA, Aa, or aa, AA, Aa, or aa,
CC, dd, rnrn CCCr, dd, rnrn CCrCCr, dd, rnrn

Bay Genotype Buckskin Genotype Perlino Genotype

Not white: ww Not white: ww Not white: ww

Not grey: gg Not grey: gg Not grey: gg
Not chestnut: Ee or EE Not chestnut: Ee or EE Not chestnut: Ee or EE
Agouti: AA or Aa Agouti: AA or Aa Agouti: AA or Aa
Not cream: CC Cream: CCCr Cream: CCrCCr
Not dun: dd Not dun: dd Not dun: dd
Not roan: rnrn Not roan: rnrn Not roan: rnrn
Genotype: ww, gg, EE or Ee, Genotype: ww, gg, EE or Ee, Genotype: ww, gg, EE or Ee,
AA or Aa, AA or Aa, AA or Aa,
CC, dd, rnrn CCCr, dd, rnrn CCrCCr, dd, rnrn

8 Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
 Coat Color Outcomes for Selective Breeding Examples

Coat Color Outcomes for

Selective Breeding Examples
When breeding two horses, a Punnett square can display
the probability of potential color outcomes, provided the
horse’s genotype is known. The examples below show
how to use a Punnett square to determine the probability
of getting a specific color outcome based on particular
breeding combinations.

EXAMPLE 1

One Gene
Using the extension gene, what
genotypic outcomes are possible
when crossing a black stallion with the
genotype of Ee and a chestnut mare
with the genotype of ee? Stallion E e Black Coat

E e

Mare E e Black Horse e e Chestnut Horse

e e
Chestnut Coat

E e Black Horse e e Chestnut Horse

Track the color of each allele from the OUTCOME

stallion and mare to their respective
locations within the punnett square.
Each parent can contribute only one
copy of each gene to the potential
offspring. This mating could produce
a 50 percent change of heterozygous
50% change of heterozygous Ee 50% chance of homozygous recessive ee
Ee genotype with a black coat color,
genotype with a black coat color genotype with a chestnut coat color
and 50 percent chance of homozygous
recessive ee genotype with a chestnut
coat color.
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance 9
Coat Color Outcomes for Selective Breeding Examples

EXAMPLE 2

Two Genes
Using the Extension and Agouti genes,
what genotypic and phenotypic
outcomes are possible when crossing
a black stallion (genotype:Eeaa) to a
bay mare (genoype:EeAa)?

Stallion E e a a Black Coat

E a E a e a e a

E A
E E A a E E A a E e A a E e A a
Bay Horse Bay Horse Bay Horse Bay Horse

E a
E E a a E E a a E e a a E e a a
Mare Black Horse Black Horse Black Horse Black Horse

E e A a
Bay Coat e A
E e A a E e A a e e A a e e A a
Bay Horse Bay Horse Chestnut Horse Chestnut Horse

e a
E e a a E e a a e e a a e e a a
Black Horse Black Horse Chestnut Horse Chestnut Horse

Following each allele from the mare

and stallion for each gene, this
cross would produce 25 percent
chance of chestnut (eeAa and eeaa
genotypes), 25 percent chance of
bay (EEAa and EeAa genotypes)
and 50 percent chance of black 25% chance of chestnut 25% chance of bay 50% chance of black
(EEaa and Eeaa genotypes) coat (eeAa and eeaa genotypes) (EEAa and EeAa genotypes) (EEaa and Eeaa genotypes)
colors, respectively.

10 Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
 Coat Color Outcomes for Selective Breeding Examples

EXAMPLE 3

Three Genes
Building upon examples 1 and 2, adding the cream gene in
combination to the extension and agouti genes will show
the cross between a buckskin stallion (genotype: EeAaCCcr)
and a chestnut mare (genotype: eeAaCC).

Stallion E e A a C Ccr Buckskin Coat

E A C E A Ccr e A C e A Ccr E a C E a Ccr e a C e a Ccr

e A C
E e A A C C E e A A C Ccr e e A A C C e e A A C Ccr E e A a C C E e A a C Ccr e e A a C C e e A a C Ccr
Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino

e A C
E e A A C C E e A A C Ccr e e A A C C e e A A C Ccr E e A a C C E e A a C Ccr e e A a C C e e A a C Ccr
Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino

e A C
E e A A C C E e A A C Ccr e e A A C C e e A A C Ccr E e A a C C E e A a C Ccr e e A a C C e e A a C Ccr
Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino

Mare e A C
E e A A C C E e A A C Ccr e e A A C C e e A A C Ccr E e A a C C E e A a C Ccr e e A a C C e e A a C Ccr
e e A a C C
Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino
Chestnut
Coat
e a C
E e A a C C E e A a C Ccr e e A a C C e e A a C Ccr E e a a C C E e a a C Ccr e e a a C C e e a a C Ccr
Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino Black Smoky Black Chestnut Palomino

e a C
E e A a C C E e A a C Ccr e e A a C C e e A a C Ccr E e a a C C E e a a C Ccr e e a a C C e e a a C Ccr
Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino Black Smoky Black Chestnut Palomino

e a C
E e A a C C E e A a C Ccr e e A a C C e e A a C Ccr E e a a C C E e a a C Ccr e e a a C C e e a a C Ccr
Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino Black Smoky Black Chestnut Palomino

e a C
E e A a C C E e A a C Ccr e e A a C C e e A a C Ccr E e a a C C E e a a C Ccr e e a a C C e e a a C Ccr
Bay Buckskin Chestnut Palomino Black Smoky Black Chestnut Palomino

19% chance of 19% chance of 25% chance of 25% chance of 6% chance of black
bay buckskin chestnut palomino 6% chance of smoky black

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance 11
Conclusion

Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many aspects to consider prior to selecting a
breeding pair. The conformation of the sire and dam, the ability to fit
breed standard and registration requirements, the foal’s use (form to
function) and genetic disease testing should all be considered before
breeding for color. Genetic testing is important for breed registrations,
reproduction and decreasing the prevalence of genetic diseases. When
breeding for specific colors or single traits, genetic testing can help to
increase the chance of getting the desired outcome while decreasing
undesirable consequences. By breeding responsibly, you can help
decrease the unwanted horse population within the United States while
increasing the foal’s health, use and value.

If you have any questions or would like

further information, please contact your local
county Extension office, equine Extension
specialist, or visit UTHorse.com.

12 Horse Coat Color Genetics Basic Inheritance University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
 References

References:
Thiruvenkaden, A., Kandasamy, N., & Panneerselvam, S. (2008). Coat
colour inheritance in horses. Livestock Science, 117(2-3), 109-129.
Lumpa, M., Coleman, R., & Coleman, S. (2017). A horse of a different
color: Comparing coat color genotypes of American Quarter Horses
with their registered phenotypes. Journal of Equine Veterinary
Science, 52, 75. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2017.03.218
Pixabay.com images.
UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory . (n.d.). Introduction to
Coat Color Genetics. Retrieved from US Davis Veterinary Genetics
Laboratory : https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/coatcolor.php

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Horse Coat Color Genetics Basic Inheritance 13
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14 Equine Genetics Basic Coat Color Inheritance University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture