Although Appaloosas are most commonly recognized by their colorful coat patterns, they also have other distinctive characteristics. The four identifiable characteristics are: coat pattern, mottled skin, white sclera, and striped hooves. In order to receive regular registration, a horse must have a recognizable coat pattern or mottled skin and one other characteristic. Horses which receive regular registration are issued numbers (no letters precede the number.) Those not displaying a coat pattern or mottled skin and one other characteristic will be classified as non-characteristic (N/C)) and their registration numbers preceded by the letter "N." Horses which complete the Certified Pedigree Option (CPO) program are issued numbers preceded by the letters "CN."
Mottled or Parti-Colored Skin
This characteristic is unique to the Appaloosa horse. Therefore, mottled skin is a basic and decisive indicator of an Appaloosa. Mottled skin is different from commonly found pink (flesh-colored or non-pigmented) skin in that it normally contains dark areas of pigmented skin within its area. The result is a speckled or blotchy pattern of pigmented and non-pigmented skin. When identifying mottled skin, it is important to not confuse it with simple differences in pigmentation, patches of light and dark skin, and pumpkin skin.
White Sclera
The sclera is the area of the eye which encircles the iris - the colored or pigmented portion. The white of the human eye is an example. All horses have sclera but the Appaloosa's is white and usually more readily visible than other breeds. All horses can show white around the eye if it is rolled back, up or down or if the eyelid is lifted. Readily visible white sclera is a distinctive Appaloosa characteristic provided it is not in combination with a large white face marking, such as a bald face.Striped Hooves
Many Appaloosas will have bold and clearly defined vertically light or dark striped hooves. Vertical stripes may result from a injury to the coronet or a white marking on the leg. Also light colored horses tend to have thin stripes in their hooves. As a result, all striped hooves do not necessarily distinguish Appaloosas from non-Appaloosas. Look for other Appaloosa characteristics if any of these situations apply to your horse.
Coat Patterns
A remarkable aspect of the Appaloosa is the myriad of color and pattern combinations they can exhibit. The following are seven common terms used to describe Appaloosa patterns. The description used by the Registration Department differs slightly. Appaloosa patterns are highly variable and there are many which may not fit into specific categories easily.
Blanket - refers to a horse which has a solid white area normally over, but not limited to, the hip area with a contrasting base color.
Blanket With Spots - refers to a horse with a white blanket which has dark spots within the white. The spots are usually the same color as the horse's base color.
Spots - refers to a horse which has white or dark spots over all or a portion of its body. The pattern shown in the below picture is commonly called a Leopard pattern. The ApHC classifies this as a Blue Roan with spots over entire body.
Roan - A horse exhibiting the Appaloosa roan pattern develops a lighter colored area on the forehead, jowls and facial bones of the face, over the back, loin and hips. Darker areas may appear along the frontal bones of the face as well and also on the legs, stifle, above the eye, point of the hip and behind the elbow.
Roan Blanket - refers to a horse having the roan pattern consisting of a mixture of light and dark hairs, over a portion of the body. The blanket normally occurs over, but is not limited to, the hip area.
Roan Blanket With Spots - refers to a horse with a roan blanket which has white and/or dark spots within the roan area
The Official Appaloosa Image
The official image of the appaloosa body type has changed over the decades. The above pictures are the current model used by the ApHC to promote the appaloosa. Laura and Mike Lyon of EastoWest Appaloosas have done a wonderful job pulling together some of the history of the "appaloosa profile ". With Laura's permission, I have included a link directly to their page on the topic. That Appaloosa Profile.
