Smoky black

A black horse with a single cream gene; often indistinguishable from ordinary black.

Smoky black: A black horse with a single cream gene; often indistinguishable from ordinary black.

What does this colour look like?

Usually looks like a (sometimes slightly dull or sooty) black horse. Cream dilutes black only slightly, so it is often visually identical to black.

Body
black to dull black
Mane and tail
black
Legs
black
Skin
dark
Eyes
brown

How does this colour arise?

A black horse with a single cream gene. You often cannot see it.

More about the genetics

Smoky black = black (E_, a/a) + N/Cr. Because cream mainly dilutes red pigment and black barely, the phenotype is subtle. Only a DNA test confirms it for sure.

What is this colour often confused with?

  • Black

    An evenly black horse, from nose to tail, without brown or red zones.

  • Grullo

    Dun on a black base: a mouse-grey body with a black dorsal stripe.

Discover more

PalominoBuckskinCremelloPerlinoTest your knowledge in the quizAll coat colours

Sources: UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory · Sponenberg, D.P. & Bellone, R.R. (Wiley-Blackwell).