Most commonly encountered discussions of miniature horse coat color are based on phenotype, as in most cases we can only describe the colors that we see in the horse in front of us. In horses, a lot of research has been done to explain the various colors but much more is needed. There are two NEW genetics books that specialize in equine coat colors. Horse Genetics by Ann T. Bowling and Equine Color Genetics by D. Phillip Sponenberg.
Melanin is the most important pigment of coat color in all mammals.
The next variable of animal coat color is when the distribution of these pigment bearing cells is affected. There are sets of genes that influence the distribution of melanocytes on the body. When these cells are absent, unpigmented white patches appear. We will now look at spotting factors in horses. The second great variable in coat color is the shade, intensity and distribution of the colors present in the pigment bearing cells.