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Appaloosa patterning is found in a number of breeds. Not every horse that looks like an Appaloosa is one, and not all registered Appaloosas have appaloosa markings, since the patterns do not breed true. In fact, the genetics for these patterns are not fully understood yet, so I'm not going to enumerate them.
There are four basic appaloosa patterns:
All of these factors, and others which alter the appearance of the horse, are inherited separately, so a horse can display more than one, such as varnish roan with a blanket. Appaloosas also often have vertically striped hooves, mottled pink-and-black skin, and visible sclera on the eyes.
Blanket
The horse at right is black with a spotted blanket. His base color (aaE-), blanket, and spots are all inherited separately, at different loci on the chromosomes. He also has "lightning marks" on his legs. These can be found on appaloosas of any coloration and consist of jagged white markings below the knee and hock. Unlike ordinary white leg markings, lightning marks don't touch the hoof (this horse also has a sock on his right hind leg).
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These photos show horses with solid blankets (few, if any, spots). |
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This horse's blanket is about as extensive as blankets get. |
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The horses in this set of photos have spotted blankets. |
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A very small blanket. This foal's sclera and mottled skin is also visible. |
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A very small blanket. |
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The tiniest blanket imaginable. |
The horse below is a grey with a spotted blanket. Like all greys, this horse was born some darker color, and had a white blanket with spots. As she aged, her colored area turned grey, and it blended into the white of her blanket. Note that she retains the dark skin of a grey horse, which is visible around her eyes and muzzle.
Leopard
Horses with the leopard pattern appear to be white with colored spots. The color of the spots corresponds with the horse's base color, be it black (like at left), bay, palomino, or whatever.
More leopards:
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Black leopard |
Chestnut leopard. Leopards usually have white mixed in with their mane and tail. |
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Bay leopard |
Chestnut leopard |
The foal at left shows a pattern usually called "semi-leopard." He's really a very extensive blanket. Some extensive blankets and leopards are tough to distinguish.
Varnish Roan
A varnish roan Appaloosa is similar to a regular roan (white hairs mixed in with a colored coat), except that the roaning occurs all over the body, except for the "bony areas" of the horse: The bones of the face, the hip, the stifle, the knees and hocks, and so on.
More varnish roans:
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Bay varnish roan |
This horse is black varnish roan and also has a spotted blanket. |
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A chestnut varnish roan mare and chestnut with blanket foal |
The head of a black varnish roan |
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Snowflake
Snowflake is a pattern of small white spots on a colored horse.
