# Interactions of Appaloosa Spotting with Other Genes

<p class="callout info">*Appaloosa Spotting Genes react with Non-Appaloosa Genetics, making them a little hard to predict and breed true. However this article is here to help you better understand how things like Pigment Density can produce larger spots.* </p>

#### **Proposed Talking Points**

1. In Game Vocabulary
2. How Do Appaloosa Genes Interact with Non-Appaloosa Genes
3. Interactions of Appaloosa Spotting and Gender

##### **In Game Vocabulary**

<details id="bkmrk-in-game-vocabulary-a"><summary>In Game Vocabulary</summary>

Base Color

Pigment Density

Pinto

Shade

</details>##### **How Do Appaloosa Genes Interact with Non-Appaloosa Genes**

<details id="bkmrk-appaloosa-spotting-%2B"><summary>Appaloosa Spotting + Black &amp; Red Pigment</summary>

**Appaloosa Spotting + Black &amp; Red Pigment**

<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="align-center" style="width: 33.2892%;">*[![HET_lp_patn1_HOMsty_HOMDP-01.jpg](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/het-lp-patn1-homsty-homdp-01.jpg)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/het-lp-patn1-homsty-homdp-01.jpg)*

*Black LP/-. PATN1/-, Sty/Sty, DP/DP*

</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 33.2892%;">*[![HET_lp_patn1-HOMSTY-02.jpg](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/het-lp-patn1-homsty-02.jpg)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/het-lp-patn1-homsty-02.jpg)*

*Bay LP/-. PATN1/-, Sty/Sty*

</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 33.2933%;">*[![HET_lp_patn1-03.jpg](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/het-lp-patn1-03.jpg)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/het-lp-patn1-03.jpg)*

*Chestnut LP/-. PATN1/-*

</td></tr></tbody></table>

Pigment density (i.g., how dark a color is), can alter the expression of Appaloosa Spotting Genes by changing the rate they Varnish, or modifying spot size. On a scale of most dense to least dense, we have Black being the most dense, then Bay, followed by Chestnut being the least dense. With the addition of Darkening Genes, we can modify spot size even on Black coats.

<table border="1" class="align-center" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 42.0513%; height: 139px; background-color: #bfedd2;"><tbody><tr><td class="align-right" style="width: 26.8973%;">  
</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 48.0262%;">**Rate of Varnishing**</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 25.0765%;">**Spot Size**</td></tr><tr><td class="align-right" style="width: 26.8973%;">**Black**</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 48.0262%;">Slow</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 25.0765%;">Larger</td></tr><tr><td class="align-right" style="width: 26.8973%;">**Bay**</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 48.0262%;">Medium</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 25.0765%;">Average</td></tr><tr><td class="align-right" style="width: 26.8973%;">**Chestnut**</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 48.0262%;">Fast</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 25.0765%;">Smaller</td></tr></tbody></table>

<p class="callout info">*The chart above illustrates how the horses Base Color can influence Varnishing as well as Spot Size. It is important to note that Varnishing and Spot Size are independent of one another.* </p>

</details><details id="bkmrk-how-appaloosa-genes--0"><summary>Appaloosa Spotting + Darkening Genes (Sty, Sty+ and DP)</summary>

**Appaloosa Spotting + Darkening Genes**

Currently there are two genes that cause Pigment to darken, they are Sooty (Sty and S+) and Dense Pheomelanin (DP). These genes can work individually, or combine together to increase the range of Shade and Spot Size.

**Sooty (Sty and S+)**: Darkens a horses coat, and can also increase Spot Size, even in Black Based horses. Sooty + also darkens the coat, but breaks up the pigment to produce heavy dappling.

**Dense Pheomelanin (DP)**: Increases the production of Red Pigment, and can also increase Spot Size, even in Black Based horses.

<table border="0" class="align-center" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%;"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 9.63082%;">  
</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 29.8555%;">[![02.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/02.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/02.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.0176%;">[![01.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/01.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/01.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.6566%;">[![03.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/03.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/03.png)</td></tr><tr><td class="align-right" style="width: 9.63082%;">  
</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 29.8555%;">[![Black.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/black.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/black.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.0176%;">[![Bay.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/bay.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/bay.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.6566%;">[![Chestnut.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/chestnut.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/chestnut.png)</td></tr><tr><td class="align-right" style="width: 9.63082%;">[![04.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/04.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/04.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 29.8555%;">[![Black_HETsty.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/black-hetsty.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/black-hetsty.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.0176%;">[![Bay_HETsty.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/bay-hetsty.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/bay-hetsty.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.6566%;">[![Chestnut_HETsty.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/chestnut-hetsty.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/chestnut-hetsty.png)</td></tr><tr><td class="align-right" style="width: 9.63082%;">[![07.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/07.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/07.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 29.8555%;">[![Black_HOMdp.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/black-homdp.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/black-homdp.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.0176%;">[![Bay_HOMdp.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/bay-homdp.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/bay-homdp.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.6566%;">[![Chestnut_HOMdp.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/chestnut-homdp.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/chestnut-homdp.png)</td></tr><tr><td class="align-right" style="width: 9.63082%;">[![05.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/05.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/05.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 29.8555%;">[![Black_HOMsty.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/black-homsty.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/black-homsty.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.0176%;">[![Bay_HOMsty.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/bay-homsty.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/bay-homsty.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.6566%;">[![Chestnut_HOMsty.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/chestnut-homsty.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/chestnut-homsty.png)</td></tr><tr><td class="align-right" style="width: 9.63082%;">[![06.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/06.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/06.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 29.8555%;">[![Black_HETsty_HOMdp.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/black-hetsty-homdp.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/black-hetsty-homdp.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.0176%;">[![Bay_HETsty_HOMdp.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/bay-hetsty-homdp.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/bay-hetsty-homdp.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.6566%;"> [![Chestnut_HETsty_HOMdp.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/chestnut-hetsty-homdp.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/chestnut-hetsty-homdp.png)</td></tr><tr><td class="align-right" style="width: 9.63082%;">[![08.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/08.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/08.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 29.8555%;">[![Black_HOMsty_HOMdp.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/black-homsty-homdp.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/black-homsty-homdp.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.0176%;">[![Bay_HOMsty_HOMdp.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/bay-homsty-homdp.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/bay-homsty-homdp.png)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 30.6566%;">[![Chestnut_HOMsty_HOMdp.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/chestnut-homsty-homdp.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/chestnut-homsty-homdp.png)</td></tr></tbody></table>

<p class="callout info">*The chart above illustrates how the horses Base Color and Darkening Genes can influence Spot Size. It is important to note that these Genes work on Black Based horses as well, even if they are not visually seen.* </p>

**Sooty Plus (S+) and Spot Size**

<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="align-center" style="width: 33.2892%;">[![Black_SootyPlus.jpg](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/black-sootyplus.jpg)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/black-sootyplus.jpg)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 33.2892%;">[![Bay_SootyPlus.jpg](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/bay-sootyplus.jpg)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/bay-sootyplus.jpg)</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 33.2933%;">[![Chestnut_SootyPlus.jpg](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/chestnut-sootyplus.jpg)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/chestnut-sootyplus.jpg)</td></tr></tbody></table>

All three horses above are LP/-, PATN1/-, S+/S+. While Sooty + changes the shade of a horse, it can also creates larger Spots.

</details><details id="bkmrk-appaloosa-spotting-%2B-0"><summary>Appaloosa Spotting + Pigment Density Regulator (Bl)</summary>

**Appaloosa Spotting + Pigment Density Regulator (Bl)**

Currently Pigment Density Regulator (Bl) does three different things in the game:

1. Reduces the amount of White from Pinto Related Genes
2. Adds freckling to White Pinto Related Patterns
3. Deepens the Red in the Base Color

Of these three things, the only one that affects Appaloosa Genes is the deepening of Red. It is a very minor change, unlike Sooty and Dense Pheomelanin.

<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="align-center" style="width: 33.3761%;">[![ChestnutDraft_HET_lp_HET_PATN1_HET_vrn.jpg](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/chestnutdraft-het-lp-het-patn1-het-vrn.jpg)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/chestnutdraft-het-lp-het-patn1-het-vrn.jpg)

Chestnut + No Bl

</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 33.3761%;">[![ChestnutDraft_HET_lp_HET_PATN1_HET_vrn_HET_bl.jpg](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/chestnutdraft-het-lp-het-patn1-het-vrn-het-bl.jpg)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/chestnutdraft-het-lp-het-patn1-het-vrn-het-bl.jpg)

Chestnut + Bl/-

</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 33.3761%;">[![ChestnutDraft_HET_lp_HET_PATN1_HET_vrn_HOM_bl.jpg](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/chestnutdraft-het-lp-het-patn1-het-vrn-hom-bl.jpg)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/chestnutdraft-het-lp-het-patn1-het-vrn-hom-bl.jpg)

Chestnut + Bl/Bl

</td></tr></tbody></table>

Pigment Density Regulator (Bl) changed the Shade of the Chestnut horse with each copy of Bl. Because it was Darkening the coat, the effect of Varnishing was also reduced (more Varnishing with no Bl).

<p class="callout info">Check out [*Study #4: Appaloosa Spotting + Pigment Density Regulator (Bl)*](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/books/all-about-appaloosas-wip/page/study-4-appaloosa-spotting-pigment-density-regulator-bl) to see more examples of Pigment Density Regulator and Darkening Genes.</p>

</details><details id="bkmrk-appaloosa-spotting-%2B-1"><summary>Appaloosa Spotting + Lightening Genes</summary>

**Appaloosa Spotting + Lightening Genes**

Cream/Pearl/Sun/Sno  
Dun/Non-Dun  
Champagne  
Silver  
Mushroom

</details><details id="bkmrk-appaloosa-spotting-%2B-2"><summary>Appaloosa Spotting + Pigment Removal</summary>

**Appaloosa Spotting + Pigment Removal**

Grey

</details><details id="bkmrk-appaloosa-spotting-%2B-3"><summary>Appaloosa Spotting + Other Genes</summary>

**Appaloosa Spotting + Other Genes**

Flaxen  
Pangare

</details>##### **Interactions of Appaloosa Spotting and Gender**  


<details id="bkmrk-interactions-of-appa-0"><summary>Interactions of Appaloosa Spotting and Gender</summary>

Appaloosa Varnishing will have different expressions between Mares and Stallions, with Mares varnishing a little faster than Stallions.

<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="align-center" style="width: 49.9359%;">*[![blackstud_withVarnish.jpg](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/blackstud-withvarnish.jpg)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/blackstud-withvarnish.jpg)*

*Stallion showing less Varnishing*

</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 49.9359%;">[![blackmare_WithVarnish.jpg](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/blackmare-withvarnish.jpg)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/blackmare-withvarnish.jpg)

*Mare showing more Varnishing*

</td></tr><tr><td class="align-center" style="width: 49.9359%;">[![NoVarnish_MultiDilute_14yo_BrownStud.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/novarnish-multidilute-14yo-brownstud.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/novarnish-multidilute-14yo-brownstud.png)

*Stallion showing less Varnishing at 14 yo*

</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 49.9359%;">[![NoVarnish_MultiDilute_14yo_Brown.png](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/scaled-1680-/novarnish-multidilute-14yo-brown.png)](https://wiki.huntandjump.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-11/novarnish-multidilute-14yo-brown.png)

*Mare showing more Varnishing at 14 yo*

</td></tr></tbody></table>

</details><p class="callout info">*This information was compiled by Cheshire Farms on the Bluegrass Server and is current as of November 26, 2023.   
Special thank you to Ammit and Cheshire Farms for contributing photos to this article.* </p>