Cal-Western Appaloosa Show Horse Assoc. - Identifying the Appaloosa

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to read about each characteristic.

The Appaloosa has a bold and colorful heritage, originating some 20,000 years ago. His appearance and unique qualities earned him special recognition in the drawings of cave dwellers, and worship in ancient Asia and made him a prized mount of Spanish explorers, Indians and western settlers. Today, the Appaloosa's color, versatility, willing temperament and athletic ability make him a popular choice for a number of activities.
Although Appaloosas are most commonly recognized by their colorful coat patterns, they also have other distinctive characteristics. The four identifiable characteristics are: coat pattern, mottled skin, white sclera and striped hooves. In order to receive regular registration, a horse must have a recognizable coat pattern or mottled skin and one other characteristic. Horses which receive regular registration are issued numbers (no letters precede the number). Those not displaying a coat pattern or mottled ski and one other characteristic will be classified as non-characteristic (N/C) and their registration numbers are preceded by the letter "N". Horses which complete the Certified Pedigree Option (CPO) program are issued numbers preceded by the letters "CN".

Coat Pattern
The remarkable aspect of the Appaloosa is the myriad of color and pattern combinations he can exhibit. The seven common terms used to describe Appaloosa coat patterns are blanket, spots, blanket with spots, roan, roan blanket, roan blanket with spots and solid. The descriptions used by the registration department differ slightly because Appaloosa patterns are highly variable and there are many which may not fit into specific categories easily.

Mottled or Parti-Colored Skin
This characteristic is unique to the Appaloosa horse. Therefore, mottled skin is a basic and decisive indicator of an Appaloosa. Mottled skin is different from commonly found pink (flesh-colored or non-pigmented) skin in that it normally contains dark areas of pigmented skin within its area. The result is a speckled or blotchy pattern of pigmented and non-pigmented skin.
If a horse has mottled skin, it may be found in several places. In addition to the muzzle and eye areas, mottled skin may be seen spreading from the center of the anus or vulva to the surrounding area. Mottled skin may also be found on the sheath, testicles, or udder. Many breeds will have specks of non-pigmented skin in this region, which should not be confused with Appaloosa mottled skin.
When identifying mottled skin, remember that mottled skin found on the muzzle and around the eye will often have a different appearance than that which is found in the genital regions. Mottled skin found on the muzzle, for example, will have a speckled pattern of pigmented and non-pigmented skin, whereas mottling on the genitals is more likely to be a blotchy pattern, sometimes looking like an irregular "map" of light and dark skin. Mottled skin around the eyes and/or muzzle can extend over both nostrils and around both lips. All horses have a line between pigmented and non-pigmented skin on their lips when these are separated. Searching for signs of mottled skin should not include separating the horses lips.
Simple differences in pigmentation of certain areas are common to many breeds and should not be considered appropriate examples of mottled skin. These include patches of light and dark skin on the underside of the tail, penis or the upper inside of the legs. Pumpkin skin is a general term referring to lightly pigmented, often orange-tinted, skin without the contrast between dark and light areas evident in Appaloosa mottled skin.

White Sclera
The sclera is the area of the eye which encircles the cornea - the colored or pigmented portion. The white of the human eye is an example. All horses have sclera but the Appaloosa's is white and usually more readily visible than other breeds. Allhorses can show white around the eye if it is rolled back, up or down, or if the eyelid is lifted. Readily visible white sclera is a distinctive Appaloosa characteristic provided it is not in combination with a large white face marking, such as a bald face.

Striped Hooves
Many Appaloosas will have bold and clearly defined vertically light or dark striped hooves. Vertical stripes may result from an injury to the coronet or a white marking on the leg. Also, light colored horses tend to have thin stripes in their hooves. As a result, all striped hooves do not necessarily distinguish Appaloosas from non-Appaloosas. Look for other Appaloosa characteristics if any of these situations apply to your horse.