Leopard
A white coat covered with rounded coloured spots, like a leopard.
What does this colour look like?
A white body with scattered egg-shaped coloured spots all over. Part of the leopard complex, which also gives mottled skin, striped hooves and white eye sclera.
- Body
- white with coloured spots
- Mane and tail
- white or mixed
- Legs
- white with spots
- Skin
- mottled
- Eyes
- white sclera
How does this colour arise?
The leopard pattern is a white coat full of round coloured spots.
More about the genetics
Leopard complex is set by LP (dominant for the complex). PATN1 and other PATN genes control how much white. A true leopard is usually LP with a lot of white (e.g. via PATN1). Health note: LP/LP horses have CSNB (night blindness).
What is this colour often confused with?
- Fewspot leopard
An almost fully white appaloosa horse with only a few spots.
- Blanket
A white blanket over the hips and croup, sometimes with spots in it.
- Varnish roan
An appaloosa form of roaning with dark varnish marks on the bony points.
Which breeds show this colour?
Discover more
Sources: UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory · Sponenberg, D.P. & Bellone, R.R. (Wiley-Blackwell).