palamino

Palamino, also spelled palomino, is a coat color in horses. It is characterized by a golden or yellow body with a white or very light mane and tail. The intensity of the body color can vary from a light cream to a deep gold. The coat color is a result of a dilution gene that acts on a chestnut (red) base coat. This means that a palomino horse's genetics are essentially chestnut, but with the addition of one copy of the cream dilution gene.

Palomino horses are not a breed but rather a color type that can occur in many different horse breeds. Breeds that commonly exhibit the palomino color include the Quarter Horse, Arabian, Andalusian, and various pony breeds. The color is highly prized for its striking appearance and is often associated with beauty and elegance.

The genetics behind the palomino color involve two main genes: the base coat color gene and the dilution gene. A horse must have a chestnut base coat (which appears red or reddish-brown) and carry one copy of the cream gene (symbolized as Ccr). If a horse has two copies of the cream gene on a chestnut base coat, it will result in a cremello or perlino, which are much lighter, almost white horses with pinkish skin and blue eyes.

Palomino horses have a long history and are often depicted in art and mythology. Their distinct coloring has made them popular in equestrian events, parades, and as pleasure riding horses.