Palomino

Palomino is a horse color, not a breed. It refers to a gold-colored coat with a white or pale mane and tail, produced when a chestnut horse carries at least one copy of the creme gene. Because the creme gene is incompletely dominant, a chestnut horse with one copy becomes palomino; two copies yield cremello. Palomino horses occur in many breeds, including the American Quarter Horse, Arabian, and Thoroughbred, and they can range from pale straw to rich golden in shade. They may have flaxen manes and tails, though the mane color can vary.

Palomino horses can be found across diverse breeds and are defined by their coat color rather than by a specific lineage or performance standard. While the appearance is distinctive, palomino is not a separate breed and does not imply any particular temperament or ability. Care considerations for palomino horses are the same as for other horses of the same breed and age, including routine veterinary care, dental management, and nutrition.

Palomino also refers to a white wine grape variety used to produce most sherry. The grape, commonly called Palomino Fino in its sherry style, is grown primarily in Andalusia, Spain. It yields dry, crisp wines with neutral flavors and the ability to age into fortified sherries such as Fino and Amontillado. The two uses of the term Palomino are distinct, sharing only a name.