Horse Coat Color Calculator: What Color Will My Foal Be?

DNA results

Parents’ color DNA

Enter only the DNA results you know. Untested genes stay unknown. Your appearance choices and what-ifs are retained with this pairing.

Use my horses

Basis for new or changed DNAUntouched calls keep their labels.

Stallion coat (optional)DNA results take priority if the coat choice conflicts.

Sire’s color DNA

SexMale

The sire is entered as male.

Color basics

Agouti

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Cream & Pearl

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Dun

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Gray

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Extension + PATN1 results

Extension and PATN1 listed separately

Extension

Choose the two-copy result from the report.

First allele

Second allele

PATN1

Choose the two-copy result from the report.

First allele

Second allele

More color genesNot started

Champagne

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Silver

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Mushroom

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Frame Overo

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Coat pattern genes4 of 8 ready · 4 not tested

KIT white patterns

Tobiano

Choose the result printed on the report. Leave blank if this test was not included.

Not tested

Classic Roan marker

Choose the result printed on the report. Leave blank if this test was not included.

Not tested

Sabino 1

Choose the result printed on the report. Leave blank if this test was not included.

Not tested

Dominant White

Choose the result printed on the report. Leave blank if this test was not included.

Not tested

What the KIT choices mean

No KIT variant on this copy: The usual KIT sequence on this copy, with no tested white-pattern variant.
Roan marker (Rn): Classic roan: white hairs mixed through the body coat while the head and lower legs stay darker. Labs test a marker linked to roan rather than the variant itself.
Tobiano (To): Tobiano: white patches that usually cross the back between the withers and tail, white legs, and a mostly colored head. Caused by an inversion on chromosome 3 near KIT.
Sabino 1 (SB1): Sabino 1: white on the legs, face and belly, often with roaned edges. One copy gives variable white; two copies usually give a mostly or all-white horse.
Camarillo White W4: Camarillo White (W4): the dominant white variant of the Camarillo White Horse. Horses with one copy are all or nearly all white.
Dominant White W5: Dominant White W5: white can be broad and highly variable, up to nearly all white.
Dominant White W10: Dominant White W10: white can be broad and highly variable.
Dominant White W13: Dominant White W13: horses with one copy are usually all or nearly all white.
Dominant White W20: Dominant White W20: a widespread, mild variant. On its own it may show little or no white, but it can enlarge markings and other white patterns.
Dominant White W31: Dominant White W31: associated with extensive white spotting in the few horses studied so far.
Dominant White W32: Dominant White W32: effects range from no visible white or very mild white to clear white spotting. Research is still limited.
Dominant White W35: Dominant White W35: effects vary and may not be visible. How it shows depends on the other KIT variants on the same chromosome.
W20 and W22 together on one copy: W20 and W22 on one copy: W22 arose on a chromosome that already carried W20, so the two are inherited together. One copy can give extensive white.
W32 and W35 together on one copy: W32 and W35 on one copy, inherited together. The combined effect varies and is still being studied.

Leopard Complex

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Splashed White families

MITF Splashed White

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

PAX3 Splashed White

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Brindle1

Choose one Brindle1 result for each X chromosome shown.

First allele

Mare coat (optional)DNA results take priority if the coat choice conflicts.

Dam’s color DNA

SexFemale

The dam is entered as female.

Color basics

Agouti

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Cream & Pearl

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Dun

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Gray

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Extension + PATN1 results

Extension and PATN1 listed separately

Extension

Choose the two-copy result from the report.

First allele

Second allele

PATN1

Choose the two-copy result from the report.

First allele

Second allele

More color genesNot started

Champagne

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Silver

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Mushroom

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Frame Overo

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Coat pattern genes4 of 8 ready · 4 not tested

KIT white patterns

Tobiano

Choose the result printed on the report. Leave blank if this test was not included.

Not tested

Classic Roan marker

Choose the result printed on the report. Leave blank if this test was not included.

Not tested

Sabino 1

Choose the result printed on the report. Leave blank if this test was not included.

Not tested

Dominant White

Choose the result printed on the report. Leave blank if this test was not included.

Not tested

What the KIT choices mean

No KIT variant on this copy: The usual KIT sequence on this copy, with no tested white-pattern variant.
Roan marker (Rn): Classic roan: white hairs mixed through the body coat while the head and lower legs stay darker. Labs test a marker linked to roan rather than the variant itself.
Tobiano (To): Tobiano: white patches that usually cross the back between the withers and tail, white legs, and a mostly colored head. Caused by an inversion on chromosome 3 near KIT.
Sabino 1 (SB1): Sabino 1: white on the legs, face and belly, often with roaned edges. One copy gives variable white; two copies usually give a mostly or all-white horse.
Camarillo White W4: Camarillo White (W4): the dominant white variant of the Camarillo White Horse. Horses with one copy are all or nearly all white.
Dominant White W5: Dominant White W5: white can be broad and highly variable, up to nearly all white.
Dominant White W10: Dominant White W10: white can be broad and highly variable.
Dominant White W13: Dominant White W13: horses with one copy are usually all or nearly all white.
Dominant White W20: Dominant White W20: a widespread, mild variant. On its own it may show little or no white, but it can enlarge markings and other white patterns.
Dominant White W31: Dominant White W31: associated with extensive white spotting in the few horses studied so far.
Dominant White W32: Dominant White W32: effects range from no visible white or very mild white to clear white spotting. Research is still limited.
Dominant White W35: Dominant White W35: effects vary and may not be visible. How it shows depends on the other KIT variants on the same chromosome.
W20 and W22 together on one copy: W20 and W22 on one copy: W22 arose on a chromosome that already carried W20, so the two are inherited together. One copy can give extensive white.
W32 and W35 together on one copy: W32 and W35 on one copy, inherited together. The combined effect varies and is still being studied.

Leopard Complex

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Splashed White families

MITF Splashed White

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

PAX3 Splashed White

Choose the result shown on the lab report, if you have it.

First allele

Second allele

Brindle1

Choose one Brindle1 result for each X chromosome shown.

First allele

Second allele

[data-comprehensive-share]{display:none!important}Enter the results on your report. Blank genetic fields mean Not tested. If the report supplies a chromosome arrangement, keep it in the additional fields.

Your foal color map

Their possible foals

Enter the DNA results you know. Exact chances when they decide a color; every possible color when they don’t.

Start entering DNA See an illustrated example

A clearer answer from what you know

A horse’s appearance can match more than one genetic combination, so each possible foal color comes with the full chance range its appearance supports. Add DNA results whenever you have them to narrow those ranges and unlock exact odds.

What this calculator covers

This calculator uses the coat-color tests listed below. It covers Extension, Agouti, Cream and Pearl, Champagne, Dun, Silver, Gray, Mushroom, Frame Overo, linked KIT white patterns, Leopard Complex with PATN1, Splashed White, and Brindle1. Health notes summarize published research; ask your veterinarian what they mean for a particular horse.

Limits

Shade modifiers such as sooty, flaxen and dapples, face and leg markings, and the size of a white or leopard pattern are not predicted.
From coat colors alone, a chance is exact only when the colors decide it; otherwise you see the honest range. DNA results narrow it.
An educational tool, not a substitute for a laboratory report or veterinary advice.

Sources

UC Davis VGL coat-color reference UC Davis VGL Red or black (Extension) test UC Davis VGL Agouti test UC Davis VGL Cream and Pearl test UC Davis VGL Champagne test UC Davis VGL Dun test UC Davis VGL Silver test UC Davis VGL Gray test UC Davis VGL Mushroom test UC Davis VGL Frame Overo test UC Davis VGL Tobiano test UC Davis VGL Roan test UC Davis VGL Sabino 1 test UC Davis VGL Dominant White test UC Davis VGL Leopard Complex and PATN1 test UC Davis VGL Splashed White test UC Davis VGL Brindle1 test UC Davis VGL Gray copy-number test

How it works: the method, health notes and peer-reviewed references

Explore example pairings with named DNA panels and exact odds

Save this pairing

Your saved pairings are private. A shared link opens an independent copy with no horse names or photos.

Create an account and save this pairing

Gene guides

Agouti · Brindle 1 · Champagne · Cream · Dominant White · Dominant White W20 · Dun · Frame Overo · Gray · Leopard Complex · Mushroom · Non-Dun 1 · Pattern-1 (PATN1) · Pearl · Red Factor · Roan · Sabino 1 · Silver · Splashed White · Tobiano

Horse color genetics can be wonderfully surprising. Choose the colors you see or enter the DNA results you know, then explore the coats and patterns their foal could inherit, complete with useful health and inheritance notes.

Colors and patterns you can explore

Start with familiar coat colors or go deeper with the names used on common DNA test panels.

Core coat-color tests: Extension, Agouti, Cream and Pearl, Dun, Silver, Gray, and Frame Overo
Champagne at SLC36A1
Mushroom at MFSD12
KIT-region families, including Tobiano, Roan, Sabino1, selected Dominant White alleles, and Camarillo White W4
Leopard Complex at LP
Pattern-1 modifier at PATN1
Splashed White families at MITF
Splashed White family at PAX3
Brindle1 at MBTPS2, with sex-linked inheritance handled for you
Gray stages, so you can see how a gray coat may change over time

How to read your results

Start with the big picture, then open any color, pattern, or health note you want to explore.

Read each percentage as the chance for one conception
See every supported foal color, including possibilities that depend on hidden genes
Open the optional refinements when you know more about either parent
Enter DNA results as they appear on the lab reports for the most detailed answer
Explore separate possibilities when linked results are listed without their chromosome arrangement
Run the calculator again whenever you learn something new about either parent
Talk with your veterinarian or testing lab when a health or breeding note matters to your plans
Match your lab report to the test names the calculator uses when the wording differs
Remember the odds cover the results you entered, not every gene a horse can carry
Use the pictures as examples, because real shade and markings vary

Frequently asked questions

Which horse color genetics can I explore?

Start with the parents’ visible colors, or add DNA results for core coat colors, Champagne, Mushroom, selected KIT white-pattern families, Leopard Complex and PATN1, MITF and PAX3 Splashed White families, and sex-linked Brindle1.

When can Creatures show one set of foal odds?

When both reports contain all the information the calculator needs, Creatures can show one set of odds for the supported results you entered. If the reports do not show which linked variants were inherited together, it shows the possibilities separately and explains what remains unknown.

Why are combinations that cannot survive included in the odds?

The percentages shown always count every conception. For example, an O/O Frame Overo combination stays in the calculation, so Creatures never makes the chances for surviving foals look higher by quietly removing it.

What do the health notes mean?

Health notes highlight research connected to the colors and DNA results in the pairing. A veterinarian or testing laboratory can help you understand what a finding means for an individual horse.

Why can foals with the same color result look different?

Shade, marking boundaries, roaning, seasonal coats, and age can all change how a color appears. The calculator groups these horses under the same color family while showing the patterns and modifiers that may add variety.

What should I do when the report leaves more than one possibility?

Explore each possibility on its own. The testing laboratory may be able to show which linked variants sit together on the same chromosome, and you can update the calculator whenever you learn more.