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

Changes to the system that produces bay gave all-black and all-red horses. Variations of shade and intensity are included here.

Black

the ASIP (Agouti) gene

Chestnut

the MC1R (Extension)

Flaxen

gene(s) responsible not yet identified

 Sootiness

gene(s) responsible not yet identified

Shade and intensity

gene(s) responsible not yet identified