Due to their unusual colour, Palominos stand out in a show ring, and are much sought after as parade horses.
The Palomino is considered a colour breed. Palomino is a coat colour in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white or flaxen mane and tail. Genetically, the palomino colour is created by a dilution gene working on a red (chestnut) base coat. However, most colour breed registries that record Palomino horses were founded before equine coat colour genetics were understood as well as they are today, and hence the standard definition of a Palomino is based on the coat colour visible to the eye, not the underlying presence of the dilution gene. Thus, palomino is simply a colour and not a set of characteristics that make up a “breed”.
Because registration is based solely on coat color, horses from many breeds or combination of breeds may qualify. Some breeds that have palomino representatives are the American Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse, Morgan and Quarter Horse.
The color is fairly rare in the Thoroughbred, but does in fact occur and is recognized by The Jockey Club.
Unlike the Appaloosa, which is a distinct breed that also happens to have a unique colour, any breed or type of horse usually may be registered as palomino if they are properly golden-coloured (though, for some registries, horses may also meet a conformation or type standard).
While the breed standard states the ideal colour is that of a “newly minted gold coin” (sometimes mistakenly claimed to be a penny), some Palomino registries allow a coat colour that may range from cremello, an almost-white colour, to a deep, dark, chocolate colour (“chocolate palomino”).
The liver chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail (back), may be accepted as “palomino” by some colour registries.
A palomino at the lighter end of the acceptable range of colour, coat is still a golden shade, skin is dark, horse is not quite a cremello.
White markings are also permitted on the face, but must not extend past the eyes.
Some breeds, such as the Haflinger and Arabian, may appear to be palomino, but are genetically chestnuts with flaxen manes and tails, as neither breed carries the creme dilution that creates this colour. White markings are permitted on the legs, but must not extend beyond the knees or hocks.
Famous Palominos
One of the most famous Palomino horses was Trigger, acknowledged as “the smartest horse in movies,” the faithful mount of the Hollywood Cowboy star Roy Rogers during the 1940s and 1950s. Another famous Palomino was Mr. Ed (real name Bamboo Harvester) who starred on his own TV show in the 1960s.
Finally it should be noted that Link’s Horse Epona, from the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, can be considered a Palomino.
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