Appaloosa Horses

The Appaloosa horses are known for their leopard spotted coats. They are one of the most popular horse breeds in the U.S., today.

They possess many unique characteristics which identify members of the breed. Mottled skin on the face and some parts of the body are both important appaloosa traits.

Another characteristic is vertical striping on the hooves. The visible white sclera around the eyes, unique to the breed, gives them an almost human quality. They can have brown, blue or hazel eyes, and an individual horse may have eyes of two different colors. The most noticeable, as well as best known trait, is the unusual coat pattern.

The basic colors of this breed can include bay, black, chestnut, palomino and buckskin, and any variation of dun and grullo.

The characteristic markings overlay the base color and can have several different pattern variations.

The Appaloosa Horse Club recognizes 13 base colors, which may be overlain by any of the following recognized patterns.

• Blanket
• Leopard
• Few Spot Leopard
• Snow Flake
• Varnish Roan
• Frost

See our horse colors page for detailed explanations of these patterns.