American Palomino

A beautiful palomino horse posing on a hill in the snow with an American USA Flag background. Part of the America the beautiful series.

Palomino Horse in the Snow

It was so nice for this beautiful Palomino horse to pose for me in the snow and a  background of fog. Some Palomino facts. Palomino is a coat color in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white mane and tail. Genetically, the palomino color is created by a single allele of a dilution gene called the cream gene working on a “red” (chestnut) base coat.  ( Prints for sale online – Palomino Horse in the Snow )

Some palomino horses are classified as a color breed. However, unlike the Appaloosa or the Friesian, which are distinct breeds that also happen to have a unique color preference, Palomino color breed registries often accept a wide range of breed or type if the animals are properly golden-colored. The Palomino cannot be a true horse breed, however, because palomino color is an incomplete dominant gene and does not breed “true”. A palomino crossed with a palomino may result in a palomino about 50% of the time, but could also produce a chestnut (25% probability) or a cremello (25% probability). Thus, palomino is simply a partially expressed color allele and not a set of characteristics that make up a “breed.”

Smiling Palomino in the Snow

Love this view of this beautiful smiling Palomino horse in the snow.  A Palomino is not a horse breed, but a color of horse.  Palominos can be any type of breed and can be registered in that particular breeds registry.  However, every Palomino that is registered with the Palomino Horse Breeders of America must have the Palomino colors and must stand 14 to 17 hands tall.  In order to be registered they can only have white on them below the knee or on their face.  Prints available online – Smiling Palomino in the Snow

The Palomino gains its name from the Royal family in Spain, Palomina. Horses with Palomino coloring have been very popular throughout history. Cortes brought a number of Queen Isabella’s Palominos with him to America in 1519. Some of these, or their offspring, eventually escaped and contributed to the Palomino coloring once common in Mustangs. Although Palominos are found in many different breeds, about 50 percent are registered Quarter horses.