The Appaloosa Club promotes unusual or distinctive coat colors, even though many breed standards forbid them. The ApHC register accepts these colors and marks in any combination.
There are other ways that this gene is expressed, hence horses without the distinctive markings can nevertheless be carriers of the trait and have speckled progeny.
Although their unusual coat patterns come with a danger of certain genetic disorders, appaloosas are renowned for their durability and general health.
Spotted coats on certain small horses, ponies, or draft horses may point to an Appaloosa progenitor somewhere in the family tree.
Though they may look to have spots, horses with a "dapple gray" coat pattern Lipizzaners, Thoroughbreds, Andalusians, Welsh ponies, etc.
A solid colored Appaloosa must also have mottled skin, white sclera, and striped hooves in order to be included into the ApHC register.
Researchers now think the paintings mirrored reality; the mutation for a leopard-spotted coat was discovered in multiple remains of ancient horses, albeit at first thought to be images of mythical monsters.
From the Palouse region in northern Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, come appaloosas. Originally called "a Palouse" horses, historical writings have also called them "Palousey," "Appalousey," "Appaloos," and "Appalucy" horses.
Originally a fishing culture, the Nez Perce started raising horses when they got their first ones in the early 1700s.