Why Most Horses Lack The Dark Markings Of Their Ancestors

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Three Dun stallions. From left to right: Bay Dun, Blue Dun, and Red Dun. Freyja Imsland

Horses with what’s called Dun coloration sport a mostly pale coat with a few dark-colored markings, like a stripe down the back or a series of streaks on the legs. Most horses these days are non-dun, though Dun is thought to be the ancestral coloration. Researchers have now identified the genetic mechanism behind these so-called “primitive markings,” and their findings, published in Nature Genetics this week, suggest that Dun was important for camouflage in wild horses.