Pangaré
Pangaré (also called mealy) is a trait that lightens the softer areas of a horse’s coat. It appears on chestnut and bay-based horses and gives them a softer, lighter look around certain parts of the body.
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Looks Like (Phenotype)
Pangaré lightens the muzzle, around the eyes, belly, inner legs and sometimes the flanks. These lighter areas can range from a warm tan to almost white. This effect can make the horse look as if it has soft “highlighted” areas.
Curious to see many pangaré coats side by side? Horse Reality offers many examples.
Variations
The strength of pangaré varies a lot. Some horses show only a pale muzzle, while others have large light patches along the belly and sides. You will often see clear examples in breeds like Fjords, Haflingers and Exmoor Ponies.
Behind the Colour (Genotype)
The exact genetic cause of pangaré is not yet known in real life. However, it is understood to affect red pigment, which is why pangaré:
- Shows on chestnut and bay
- Does not show on black-based coats
- May be harder to see when other modifiers are present here