Appaloosa horses are born with mottled skin, striped hooves, and white sclera (like a humans). Leopard appaloosas get their name from their distinctive patterning, which covers most or all of the horse, and is determined by the PATN1 allele, which is responsible for both leopard appaloosa and few spot appaloosa.
All appaloosa genes require Varnish Roan (LP,lp) to be visible. One varnish allele with PATN1 make a leopard horse, while two varnish roan alleles creates a fewspot horse.
All appaloosa genes require Varnish Roan (LP,lp) to be visible. One varnish allele with PATN1 make a leopard horse, while two varnish roan alleles creates a fewspot horse.
When a leopard appaloosa is homozygous for varnish roan, it's spots no longer form and is called a "few spot appaloosa". These horses will have minimal patterning and may have a nearly solid white coat.
Genes that are in bold are active on the coat. Genes that are underlined are genes that the horse may carry, but will have no visible effect on the coat.
Leopard appaloosa
Gene Sequence
ee · aa · gg · crcr · dd · chch · F_ · zz · stysty · rbrb · rn+rn+ · sb1+sb1+ · w+w+ · to+to+ · oo · splspl · LPlp · PATN1_ · patn2patn2
ee · aa · gg · crcr · dd · chch · F_ · zz · stysty · rbrb · rn+rn+ · sb1+sb1+ · w+w+ · to+to+ · oo · splspl · LPlp · PATN1_ · patn2patn2
Few spot appaloosa
Gene Sequence
ee · aa · gg · crcr · dd · chch · F_ · zz · stysty · rbrb · rn+rn+ · sb1+sb1+ · w+w+ · to+to+ · oo · splspl · LPLP · PATN1_ · patn2patn2
ee · aa · gg · crcr · dd · chch · F_ · zz · stysty · rbrb · rn+rn+ · sb1+sb1+ · w+w+ · to+to+ · oo · splspl · LPLP · PATN1_ · patn2patn2