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🪽 White Patterns

Tobiano (TO)

Tobiano is a dominant white pattern gene that creates smooth, rounded white patches that often cross the topline.

Inheritance & Expression

Genotype Result
TO/TO

25% Expressive Tobiano

75% Medium Tobiano

TO/n

50% Medium Tobiano

50% Minimal Tobiano

n/n No Tobiano

Characteristics

  • Rounded white patches
  • White legs
  • WhitelegsWhite crossing over the topline
  • Dark head with normal facial markings

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Splashed White (SW)

Genotype Result
SW/SW

25% Expressive Splash

75% Medium Splash

SW/n

50% Medium Splash

50% Minimal Splash

n/n No Splash

Characteristics

  • Crisp-edged white markings
  • High white legs
  • White underside
  • Blue eyes are common

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Sabino (SB)

Genotype Result
SB/SB

25% Expressive Sabino

75% Medium Sabino

SB/n

50% Medium Sabino

50% Minimal Sabino

n/n No Sabino

Characteristics

  • Jagged, irregular white markings
  • High uneven white legs
  • Wide blaze or extensive facial white
  • Brown eyes are common

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Frame Overo (O)

Genotype Result
O/O Lethal White Syndrome
O/n

50% Medium Overo

25% Minimal Overo

25% Extensive Overo

n/n No Overo

Characteristics

  • Irregular, jagged white patches
  • White rarely crosses the topline
  • Small leg markings are common
  • White is concentrated on the sides and neck

Since O/O is lethal, there is no expressive category for homozygous horses because they won't survive.

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Tovero

Tovero is not a separate gene. A Tovero horse inherits both Tobiano and Overo pattern genes.

Characteristics

  • Combination of tobiano and overo traits
  • White crossing the topline
  • Irregular body markings
  • Blue eyes are common
  • White is concentrated on the sides and neck

 


KIT White (W20)

KIT White, also known as W20, is a white-enhancing gene that influences the amount of white a horse displays. In EquestriCraft, W20 works alongside facial markings, leg markings, and white pattern genes to determine overall white expression.

Unlike Tobiano, Sabino, or Splashed White, W20 does not create a specific pattern on its own. Instead, it increases the amount of white that may be expressed throughout the horse.

Inheritance

Genotype Expression
W20/W20 Extensive White
W20/n Medium White
n/n Minimal White

Expression

n/n (Minimal White)

Horses without W20 will typically display only small amounts of white.

Examples:

  • Star
  • Snip
  • Crescent
  • Coronet bands
  • Fetlocks
  • Small socks
  • None

W20/n (Medium White)

Horses carrying one copy of W20 may display moderate white expression.

Examples:

  • Blaze
  • Stripe
  • Strip
  • Tall socks
  • Moderate body white

W20/W20 (Extensive White)

Horses carrying two copies of W20 may display extensive white markings.

Examples:

  • Bald face
  • Large Blaze
  • Stockings
  • Large belly spots

Interaction With Other White Pattern Genes

W20 can enhance the expression of other white pattern genes such as:

  • Tobiano (TO)
  • Frame Overo (O)
  • Sabino (SB)
  • Splashed White (SW)

A horse carrying both W20 and another white pattern gene may display significantly more white than a horse with the same pattern but without W20.


Leopard Complex (LP)

LP determines whether a horse can display Appaloosa characteristics.

Inheritance

Genotype Result
LP/LP Strong Appaloosa Expression
LP/n Moderate Appaloosa Expression
n/n No Appaloosa

PATN1

PATN1 controls how much white patterning develops.

Genotype Result
PATN1/PATN1 High White Coverage
PATN1/n Moderate White Coverage
n/n Low White Coverage

Example Outcomes

LP Status PATN1 Status Possible Result
LP/n n/n Varnish Roan, Minimal Blanket
LP/n PATN1/n Blanket, Spotted Blanket
LP/LP PATN1/n Leopard
LP/LP PATN1/PATN1 Fewspot, Snowcap, Extensive Leopard

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Roan (RN)

Roan is a dominant pattern gene that mixes white hairs evenly throughout the body while typically leaving the head and lower legs darker.

Inheritance

Genotype Result
RN/RN Heavy Roan
RN/n Roan
n/n Non-Roan

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Rabicano (Rb)