Cremello, Perlino, and Other Horses With the Cream Gene

Cremello, perlino, and other horses with the cream gene are some of the most beautiful horses in the world. They exhibit a unique coloration and appearance due to their creamy white coats and pink skin. In this article, I will explore what makes these horses so special and sort out the difference between the different varieties of horses with cream genes.

Cream Factor or Creme Gene

Carmello’s and Perlino’s owe their stunning colors due to a dilution gene called the Cream factor. This gene dilutes the base color and mainly affects the red pigments of the horse. The cream factor affects both the coat on the horse’s body and the color of the horse’s mane and tail. This is particularly evident in chestnuts. The cream factor has an incompletely dominant inheritance, meaning that a horse with two copies of the creme gene will be much lighter than a horse with only one copy of the gene. Overall, the cream gene is an interesting and beautiful aspect of horse genetics, that can produce a variety of striking coat colors in many different breeds.

Cremello

The horse will be Cremello colored if it is a chestnut horse with two sets of cream dilution genes. Cremello horses are also called Blue Eye Cream as they are cream-colored and the eye color is blue. They have no black hair. Cremello foals are born with the same color and thus have the same color their entire life.

The cremello color itself doesn’t cause any particular health issues except that their pink noses are more sensitive to the sun and get sunburned easily.

Perlino

A horse with the base color bay that has two copies of the Cream gene will have a very pale coat and its mane and tail will be pale yellow. They have rosy pink skin. These horses have the name Perlinos.

Palomino

A chestnut with only one cream gene will have a dilution of coat color that can be described as a pale yellow. The mane and tail are usually affected even more and become almost white. They have brown eyes. This pale yellow horse is called a Palomino horse.

Palomino horses are not a breed but only a color designation, creme gene affecting the chestnut base color. Palominos are sometimes also called Isabelle.

Buckskin

A horse with the base color bay and one single copy of the Cream gene will have a pale coat that is more golden/yellow-brown. The mane and tail of these horses are not affected and remain black. These horses are called Buckskin. Buckskins may be similar to horses with the color dun but buckskin horses do not have the dorsal stripe.

Smokey Black

Horses with the base color black and a set of the cream gene get the color smokey black. Smoky blacks are quite rare.

Smokey Cream

Horses with the base color black and two sets of the cream gene get the color smokey cream. The smoky cream coat color is very unusual.

Basic color	Cream factor modifying basic colors – one gene	Cream factor modifying basic colors – two genes
Chestnut	Palomino horse or Isabelle	Cremello or BEC
Bay	Buckskin horses	Perlino
Black	Smokey black	Smokey cream

The Cremello & Perlino Educational Association

There is a special association that promotes these beautiful horses with cream coat colors. Their purpose is “The Cremello & Perlino Educational Association’s purpose is to educate the public and the equine professional about the cremello and perlino colors, and to promote the appreciation of these colors, and, by association, the palomino, buckskin, smoky black, and smoky cream colors, in all breeds of horses.”

Cremello vs Perlino

Cremello and Perlino horses are very similar in coat color and they both have blue eyes. What distinguishes them is that the Perlino has a yellowish tint color of the white mane and tail. Cremello’s tail is completely white colored. The perlino is a bay horse with two copies of the cream gene and the cremello is a horse with a chestnut base coat with two copies of the cream gene.

Is Albino Horses the Same as Cremellos or Perlinos?

No albino is not the same as a cremello or perlino horse. Albino means completely malfunctioning tyrosinase enzyme thus missing black pigment. True albinism means the complete absence of pigment and results in individuals with a total absence of pigment in the skin and hair. Total albinism also gives red eyes. Albinos become more sensitive to light because of their pale skin. Red-eyed albinos also have a visual impairment and may have problems with blood clotting. There are no albinos in the equine genus, although there is a popular belief and cremellos and perlinos are sometimes mistakenly referred to as such.

Horse Breeds Where the Creme Gene is Present

Below are descriptions of the most common breeds in which the creme gene occurs.

American Quarter Horse

A horse breed that carries the cream gene is the American Quarter Horse. These horses are known for their compact, muscular bodies and their speed and agility, making them popular for horse racing and rodeos. They can also be found in a variety of coat colors, including palomino and buckskin. Previously perlino and cremello quarter horses were not allowed in the breed, but this has now changed, and these colors may now be registered with the American Quarter Horse Association.

Arabian Horse

Another breed that carries the cream gene is the Arabian horse. These horses are known for their distinctive head shape and high-set tail, and are often used in endurance racing due to their stamina and athletic ability. They can also be found in a variety of coat colors, including palomino and buckskin.

Tennessee Walking Horse

The Tennessee Walking Horse is another breed that can carry the cream gene. These horses are known for their smooth, comfortable gait, which makes them popular for trail riding and pleasure riding. They can be found in a variety of coat colors, including palomino, perlino, and buckskin.

American Miniature Horse

The American Miniature Horse is a breed of small horse known for its miniature size. These horses must stand below 34 inches tall at the withers, and are recognized for their small, compact bodies and delicate features. They are intelligent and playful animals and are often used for therapy and as companion pets.

One popular color variation of the American Miniature Horse is the palomino, which is characterized by its golden coat and white mane and tail. Another popular color is the buckskin, which is a tan or gold coat with black points on the mane, tail, and legs.

Despite their small size, American Miniature Horses are sturdy and strong, and are capable of performing a variety of tasks. They are often used in horse shows and competitions, and are known for their agility and versatility. Overall, the American Miniature Horse is a beloved and popular breed, known for its charming appearance and friendly personality.

Connemara Pony

The Connemara pony is a breed of small horse native to the Connemara region of Ireland. These ponies are known for their hardiness and versatility, and are often used for a variety of activities such as riding, driving, and jumping.

Connemara ponies have a distinctive appearance, with a medium-sized, muscular body and a thick mane and tail. They come in a range of colors, including palomino, perlino, and cream.

They are known for their intelligence and trainability, making them a popular choice for riders of all levels. Overall, the Connemara pony is a versatile and beloved breed.

Shetland Pony

Shetland ponies are a breed of small horse native to the Shetland Islands of Scotland. They are known for their sturdy, compact bodies and thick manes and tails, and are often used for riding and driving. Shetland ponies come in a wide range of colors, including palomino.

The palomino variation of the Shetland pony is characterized by its golden coat and white mane and tail. This color variation is quite popular among Shetland pony enthusiasts, as it gives the ponies a distinctive and striking appearance.

American Cream Draft Horse

The only draft horse native to the United States, existing since the early 1900s. The ancestor is the horse “Old Granny” from Iowa around the 20th century who inherited the Cream color through the Champagne gene, pink skin, and amber-colored eyes. They are like other draft horses known for their calm demeanor. According to the breed standard for American Cream Draft, the horse’s color should be light, medium, or dark cream on pink skin. The horse should have a long white mane and tail and amber- or hazel-colored eyes. The breed is quite rare and has only fewer than 400 horses registered in the U.S. The height of the American Draft Horse is 15-16.3 hands and the weight is between 1600 to 2000 lbs.

American Creme Horse

The American White American Creme Horse Registry was founded in 1980 by Ruth Thompson. This is not actually a breed but just a registry for cream-colored horses with pink skin. The eyes may be any color, but they usually have light blue or pale amber-colored eyes. These horses are often used for a variety of riding disciplines, including trail riding, dressage, and showing. They are also popular as pleasure horses and family pets due to their calm and friendly disposition. The breed has no particular health problems but is generally more sensitive to the sun because of its fair skin.

Horse Breeds Where the Creme Gene is Not Allowed

The Cream gene is completely absent in some breeds such as English thoroughbreds, Ardennes horses and Haflinger.

Caring for a Horse With the Creme Gene in the Best Way

They are just like any other horse and have basic needs such as proper housing and care. They need vaccinations and regular dental care to avoid dental problems. Clean water is just as essential as for regular horses. A proper diet consisting mainly of roughage reduces health problems in the digestive system (such as gastric ulcers and colic) and keeps them in proper body weight and good condition. Regular deworming may also be needed just like in any other horse.

One special thing about some of the horses with the creme gene is their sensitivity to the sun. This applies to horses with very pale and pink skin, especially around the eyes and nose, such as Cremello and Perlino horses. These horses need to be protected from the sun’s rays by e.g. applying sunscreen or mechanical protection in the form of a hood/nose guard.

Short Questions & Answers

Is Cremello a Horse Breed?

No Cremello is not a special breed of horse, it is a name for a special color that occurs in several different breeds of horses.

What Does the Word Cremello Mean?

Cremello means cream-colored in Spanish.

What Does the Word Perlino Mean?

Perlino means pearl colored or pearlescent in Spanish.

What Does the Word Palomino Mean?

Palomino means young pigeon in Spanish.

How Much Do Cremello Horses Cost?

Much like other horses, the price of a cremello horse can vary depending on the individual animal and its breed and pedigree. Exceptionally well-raised cremello horses with good bloodlines can fetch a higher price due to the high demand for this rare and unique coloring.

Sources

Lynghaug, Fran. The official horse breeds standards guide: the complete guide to the standards of all North American equine breed associations. Voyageur Press, 2009.

The American Miniature Horse Association www.amha.org

The Cremello & Perlino Educational Association www.angelfire.com/wy/4thorses/CPEAintro2.html

American Quarter Horse Association www.aqha.com