There are many colors a horse can be. Not only can a horse be Chestnut, it could be Liver Chestnut, Flaxen Chestnut, Dark Chestnut--the list appears endless. Variances are everywhere as well as combinations and rare colors that most people do not consider due to their infrequency of appearance. Therefore, the following information is incomplete, for there certainly exists more colors and variations than the ones I have described.

Each cell in a horse’s body contains two genes, one from each parent. One of these genes is dominant, the other is recessive: it is the dominant gene in the pair which will show in the visage of the resulted spawn. Gray is the color most dominant over all others; bay being second to it. Grays refer to a black skin with a mixture of black and white hairs, creating the illusion of gray. Fleabitten, solid, and dapple-gray can be found amongst the gray variety. Chestnut is always recessive, which means it must be two chestnuts who breed in order for the offspring to be chestnut; otherwise the other gene will be dominant, not the chestnut gene. However, there are exceptions.

Many people confuse certain colors with breeds; such as Palomino, Pinto, Paint, Piebald, Skewbald, Buckskin, and the like.

• Sorrel – A red-based color
  
  
• Palomino – A sorrel/chestnut-like color ranging in pale cream, golden, and chocolate, which is dark brown with flaxen tresses
  
  
• Cremello – A white horse with white or light cream tresses; pale blue eyes
  
  
• Perlino – Often mistaken for Cremello, Perlino has a reddish, orange-like, or yellowed mane and tail
  
  
• Bay – Ranging from blood bay to black bay, this horse has black points, though the rest of it can be blood red, ordinary brown, or near black
  
  
• Buckskin – The buckskin is defined by black points and a dorsal stripe; it can be pale cream, gold, or dark, mustard-like brown
  
  
• Black – Pure black horses are often mistaken with dark brown horses; if there is a highlight of russet, it is not a pure black. There can be faded black or a pitch black, almost purple
  
  
• Dun – Dorsal stripe, zebra stripes on upper legs, and other like markings, Duns can be reddish brown like a bay or yellowish like a buckskin
  
  
• Red Dun – The body color of the red dun is a pale, washed-out yellowish red, and the point color is red, in various shades
  
  
• Grullo/Grulla – Grulla comes in many shades, some light, some dark, some silvery, some olive-colored. All have black points, black masks, and primitive markings
  
  
• Blue Roan – Blue roans are, obviously, blue-toned. They’re a mixture of white, gray, black, and brown hair to create the illusion of blue. The head is solid-colored. Roans do not change color with time. Blue roan is ‘roan’ on black
  
  
• Red Roan – Red roans are reddish, with burnished copper and a pale, red-tinted cream mixed. They come from brown and white hair mixed with other assortments. The head is solid-colored. Roans do not change color with time. Red roan is ‘roan’ on bay
  
  
• Strawberry Roan – The Strawberry Roan is like the Red Roan, yet less burnished and made up of a more subdued, pale color. The head is solid-colored. Roans do not change color with time. Strawberry roan is ‘roan’ on chestnut
  
  
• White – Some white horses started out black and aged to white. Many horses turn white with age. However, a true white is born it. White horses have blue or brown eyes usually
  
  
• Albino – A white horse with pink eyes and pink skin to create a dead-like, ashen ivory overall

Markings are areas of different color from that of the background. They are often white or black. A horse does not need markings; some lack any whatsoever. However, some colors require markings to be considered that particular color--for example, a bay is only considered a bay if it has black points. A horse can have multiple markings. As with the colors, there are many other markings that are not listed. If you find your markings do not fit any of the below, simply describe the marking without using an official name. I have only listed basic markings that are commonly well-known and seen.

Face:

• Star --> A white spot on the forehead
  
• Stripe --> Narrow white strip extending from between the eyes down the muzzle, not extending to the edges of the nasal bone
  
• Blaze --> Broad white strip extending from between the eyes down the muzzle, extending to or beyond the edges of the nasal bone
  
• Bald Face --> Most of the face is white
  
• Snip --> White mark between the nostrils
  
• Badger Face --> A reserved blaze; a white outline around the eyes and stripe down the sides of the face, with normal coloring in the middle
  
  

Legs:

• Striped hooves --> Irregular, often vertical coloring of the hooves that looks like stripes
  
• Pastern --> A white marking extending halfway between the fetlock joint and hoof, or halfway between a coronet and a sock
  
• Stockings --> Color extends beyond knees
  
• Socks --> Color extends up to or below knees
  
• Ermine --> Black spots on white markings just above hoof
  
• Coronet --> Ring of white just above hoof

Body:

• Splash --> When there is much white present on the underbelly and usually legs of a horse as if it stepped into ivory paint
  
• Blanket --> Appears as if white was poured down over back
  
• Dapples --> Vaguely circular, insubstantial splotches of darker color
  
• Snowflake --> Dark body with a few solid white circles on back
  
• Leopard --> White with dark, solid circles like a dalmatian
  
• Dorsal Stripe --> A dark line down the spine; present on duns
  
• Zebra Stripes --> Rings of darker hair on legs
  
• Tiger Stripes --> Dark, faint, or sharp horizontal stripes on the horse's legs, most common in duns and buckskins
  
• Brindle --> Zebra-like stripes of darker color all over

• Piebald – Larges patches of black and white. There are two kinds of piebald; overo, a solid color base with white patches, and tobiano, a white coat with solid patches of color.
  
  
• Skewbald – A coat with large patches of white and any color except black. Confusingly, Americans often refer to the term ‘Pinto’ or ‘Paint,' which means piebald or skewbald.
  
  
• Sabino – Sabino is often confused with Overo. The rims of the ivory portions on a sabino are jagged, feathery, or "roaned." Many Sabino’s have a feathery patch beneath their throat, and the white usually covers their legs; if not, they almost always have a patch of white on the knees of their forelegs.
  
  
• Splashed White – Splashed White is also confused with Overo. It’s a solid covering over the stomach, legs, and a bit on the rump, with a white face and blue eyes. Overo’s do not usually have the white legs like a Splashed White.
  
  
• Overo – Overo markings do not cross over the topline of a horse, which is the spinal area, et cetera. It starts at the stomach and spreads upward. White legs are rare for an Overo, but there’s usually a large covering of white over the face.
  
  
• Tobiano – Tobiano, unlike Overo, have a dominant topline coverage that covers withers, spine, and tail. Tobiano’s usually have four white stockings, and they usually melt into the ivory covering the body. A solid-colored Tobiano is extremely rare.
  
  
• Toveros – It is possible for a horse to inherit both Overo and Tobiano markings, called Toveros. This means they have a white-painted body like a Tobiano and a white-framed face like the Overo.

The below information contains only facts on average. For example, the pure Arabian breed is listed as 14.3 to 15 hh but that is the average height--your horse may fall beyond that range and still hold a level of realism. However, an Arabian standing 17 hh is obviously out of the question. The information should be used as a guideline. You will not be rejected for going slightly outside of it, but if you are too drastic, you will be asked to modify your form to a more appropriate height, color, breed, etc. Keep in mind that some breeds breach Meta's restrictions. If a horse is listed as standing up to 18.2 hh, your horse can still only measure 18 hh. If you want a tall horse but do not like any of the breeds, you can use a mixture to excuse its height. For example, if you like an Arabian frame but want a taller horse, perhaps mix it with a Westphalian.

The same thing goes with coloring. The average color of the breed is given but that does not mean your horse cannot be another color unless it explicitly states so.

As is usual, there are many other breeds that are not listed. Only horses that could believably be found in the wild are named; for example, I would not list a National Show Horse, a breed that was only recently recognized, as I doubt a wild horse would have that bloodline. Of course, you can always use a breed that is not included below, just keep it realistic. My criteria for "realistic' or not is mainly based on when the breed was established. If it was a long time ago, then it is reasonable to assume that breed could have gotten its roots into the wild since then. The more recent it is, the less likely I am to add it.

If you can think of a breed that should be added, please PM me your suggestion. If you would like to argue that a breed should not be present that is, you may also PM me that.

The list descends by increasing height. So the tallest horse is at the bottom, the shortest is at the top.

You can scan through the breeds to find one you like, or, if you’re looking for a specific breed, you can press CTRL + F to find the breed you’re searching for, though it may not be listed.

Heavy horses are considered "draft" horses. They have a stockier, larger, and often taller bone structure than Light horses. They are the descendants of war horses with immense power and strength.