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Colour Coat Genetics - Perlino
  

WHAT DOES A PERLINO LOOK LIKE?
The PERLINO will appear almost white with the mane and tail appearing a bit darker and have a bit of a light copper at orange hue, with the lower legs having similar colouration. The mane and tail of the PERLINO will genetically test BLACK. The skin colour appears very light, almost pinkish, and does not have the darker grayish pigmentation one finds on the skin colour of the other horse colours. It is possible for the PERLINO to have 'true white' markings on the face and legs. The eyes are always pale blue.

WHAT ARE THE COLOUR GENETICS OF A PERLlNO?

PERLINO carries TWO copies of the CREAM DILUTION gene and at least ONE copy of the BLACK gene. A PERLINO is a DOUBLE CREAM DILUTED BAY. Like a BUCKSKIN, PERLINO "starts out" genetically as a BAY. ONE copy of the CREAM DILUTION passed on from one parent gives us the BUCKSKIN. TWO copies of the CREAM DILUTION gives us the PERLINO.

The PERLINO foal receives one copy of the CREAM DILUTION from each patent, usually a PALOMINO or BUCKSKIN, and even a CREMELLO at PERLINO (see PERLINO), but there are exceptions. Fat example, a parent may be a BROWN or BLACK but may also have the genetics to pass on the CREAM DILUTION depending on his at her parentage. In addition to receiving TWO copies of the CREAM DILUTION gene, the PERLINO must also have received at least ONE copy of the BLACK gene. (See BROWN and BLACK).

IF TWO PERLINOS ARE BRED TOGETHER, WILL THE RESULTING FOAL BE A "LETHAL WHITE?"

PERLINOS can be treated just as the CREMELLO in this sense. Breeding two PERLINOS has nothing to do with lethal white, which has not been associated in any of the Quartet Horse colours-it is primarily associated with specific genes associated with white markings found in Paint horses. Crossing two PERLINOS at a PERLINO with a CREMELLO will yield either a PERLINO at a CREMELLO 100 percent of the time.

WHAT colour COMBINATIONS CAN I EXPECT TO GET IF I BREED A PERLINO TO ANY OTHER colour?

PERLINO crossed with SORREL or CHESTNUT will usually yield PALOMINO or BUCKSKIN. The only exception would be a BLACK (possibly BROWN). Remember, PERLINO carries the BLACK gene. PERLINO crossed with BAY should yield BUCKSKIN at least 75 percent of the time. In the event that neither parent passed on the black gene, the ONLY other colour that can be produced is PALOMINO.

PERLINO crossed with any other colour will yield a CREAM DILUTED foal 100 percent of the rime. This does not mean the foal will be DOUBLE CREAM DILUTED, since a PERLINO can only pass on one copy of the CREAM DILUTION. Being PERLINO just means that it is guaranteed to pass on the CREAM DILUTION. For example, crossing PERLINO to BAY, SORREL, at CHESTNUT could never yield a BAY, SORREL, or CHESTNUT-any base coat colour that would be RED in appearance, regardless of the foal having black points or not.

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