HGG Community Forums

With so many new players and with appaloosa being a more complex gene combination I thought I would offer up an unofficial genetics guide. Feel free to add, offer examples, or corrections in the comments!

Appaloosa is a pattern caused by two genes: the L(lp) gene and the ECA3P (PATN1 or +) gene. To have appaloosa you must have at least one L(lp) but the others may vary to create different patterns.

Examples:

L(lp) L ECA3P(+) ECA3P+): Causes a few amount of spots on the hindquarters or even no spots but a light varnish over the entire body.

AP 2Shallow Grave


AP 3Liars Girl


Bee The Story

L(lp) L(lp) ECA3P(+) ECA3P(+): Causes a blanket on the hindquarters, not so many defined spots, and may extend up onto the back and stomach.


SNF 1Firestone


Wronged Neve


CryWolf

L(lp) L(lp) ECA3P(PATN1) ECA3P(+): Causes a large amount of white, few defined spots, covering the hindquarters, back, and stomach. May extend up the neck.


Guild Hunter


SNF 1Lammtarra


SNF 1Taco Truck

L(lp) L(lp) ECA3P(PATN1) ECA3P(PATN1): Causes white, with few defined spots, over most of the body. May sometimes make the horse entirely white.


French Kiss


Magic Trick


High Kick

L(lp) L ECA3P(PATN1) ECA3P+): Causes defined spots focused on the hindquarters but may also extend up the back and stomach.


Pumpkin Song


Pink Slip


BrokenHearted

L(lp) L(lp) ECA3P(PATN1) ECA3P(PATN1): Causes "leopard" appaloosas, defined spots covering the entire body.


RR 1Snowlight


Candy Pumpkin


Black Domino


There are, as always, exceptions to the rule as appaloosa isn't always a black and white gene. There are also hidden genes that control spot size (large vs small), varnish, and the variability in blanket size. By breeding two horses together who have the genes you desire you have a higher chance of getting offspring that have those genes. Such as if you want appaloosa with no varnish, if you breed two horses with no varnish you are more likely to get a baby with no varnish than if you were to breed two horses with varnish and just hoping for a baby without.

I hope this is helpful to everyone and feel free to add in the comments!