What Qualifies a Horse to Be a Cremello?

The cremello horse is not a separate breed, but an American quarter horse of a different color. A horse is given the name "cremello" simply because of the color of its coat, skin and eyes. The Cremello and Perlino Education Association (CPEA) partnered with veterinarians and veterinary colleges to objectively define what it is. A cremello is a horse with a cream-colored coat, a white mane and tail, blue eyes and pink skin, with legs that are typically a slightly darker shade than its body.

  1. Characteristics

    • It is important to note that a cremello horse is not white or a "lethal white." A "lethal white" is a solid or nearly solid white horse that is born with the gene responsible for a condition called Overo Lethal White Syndrome (OLWS). The condition is fatal, and all foals born with the gene develop colic and die because they are unable to pass feces. A cremello's coat resembles others, which range from a soft to rich gold or a pale off-white. The distinguishing factors are its skin and eyes. If a horse does not have pink skin or blue eyes, it is not a cremello.

    The Cream Gene

    • Every horse has two parts within its genetic code that distinguish the color of its coat, referred to as its "cream" genes. It determines the horse's base color, and whether it is one or two shades lighter, corresponding to how many cream genes are present. Sorrel, chestnut, bay and black horses have "base" colors and lack the cream gene. Buckskin, palomino and smoky black horses have one cream gene and are called "single dilutes." Cremello, perlino and smoky cream horses have two cream genes and are called "double dilutes." The cremello color is produced with two cream genes on a chestnut or sorrel (red) basecoat.

    Misconceptions

    • There are several misconceptions related to the cremello quarter horse, such as: they are albinos; they sunburn easily; and they are prone to skin cancer. The double dilute cream gene makes the horse's coat lighter, but does not remove it. Its hair, skin and eyes contain pigment. Research has been unable to find the albino gene in equines. Although cremello horses' pink skin can make them more prone to sunburn, they are reported to sunburn much less frequently than paints or other horses that have large areas with white markings. According to the CPEA, research on equine skin cancer is associated most commonly with the appaloosa, gray horses and draft breeds, but there is no data to suggest the cremello quarter horse is predisposed to skin cancer.

    Registry and Popularity

    • In the past, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) recognized cremello quarter horses only as breeding stock in the APHA registry. Cremello horses were denied registration in the AQHA breed registration, and were largely rejected by the quarter horse industry. However, because of the dedicated research and campaigning performed by the CPEA, the AQHA began officially recognizing cremellos and other "double dilute" horses as registered purebred quarter horses in 2003. Because of their efforts, the cremello American quarter horse is becoming widely accepted among breeders and breed authorities.