Facts About White Horses

From major motion pictures to mythological studies, it’s clear that white horses are prevalent in both pop culture and “ancient culture.” With that kind of attention can come misconceptions and beliefs that aren’t entirely founded in reality – and yet, as is often the case, the truth can sometimes be even more fascinating than the fiction. 

What are the facts about white horses? While you may think that white horses are a rare sight, the truth is that they are even more rare than you may believe! That’s because the vast majority of “white” horses aren’t actually white at all – rather, they are born an entirely different color and simply fade with age. There is much to learn about truly white horses, from how to properly care for them, to the many “mistaken identities” that surround horses that appear to be white.

Keep reading for fifteen fascinating facts about white horses.

Fun Fact #1: Most White Horses Are NOT White, but Gray

The vast majority of horses that you see that appear to be white are actually gray horses. Gray is a relatively common horse color but is one that doesn’t stay the same throughout the life of the horse. A gray horse is born a much darker color.

As this darker foal matures, the coat sheds to gray, before continuing to fade with age. As the gray coat fades, the horse will begin to have a coat that appears more and more white, until the entire coat is covered in white hairs. 

Not all white coats belong to gray horses in disguise. A “true white” horse is born white due to a lack of pigment and maintains this coat throughout her life. True white horses carry one of the dominant W genes and are quite rare.

Fun Fact #2: True White Horses Have Pink Skin

You won’t need your horse to submit to a DNA test to differentiate between a mature gray horse and a true white horse – the easiest way to tell the difference is by looking at the skin. True white horses will have pink skin, while gray horses have dark skin. While skin is covered by hair over the majority of the horse’s body, the skin color is quite noticeable around the eyes, muzzle, and genitals. 

Fun Fact #3: Most White Horses Have Brown Eyes

Contrary to popular belief, and to other pure-white animals, most white horses do not have blue eyes. Most true white horses have brown eyes, though they can be found in hazel and blue as well. Coats resulting from other gene mutations – particularly dilution genes – can also come with blue eyes. 

Fun Fact #4: “Cremello” and “Perlino” Horses Are Not True White

Aside from gray, the two colors most commonly mistaken for white are cremello and perlino. Both cremellos and perlinos are a result of the dilution “cream gene”, but act on different base coats. The cremello results from the cream gene acting on a chestnut coat, while the perlino results from the cream gene acting on a bay base. Generally, a perlino may have a darker mane and tail than a cremello due to the darker base coat. However, both result in a cream-colored horse that when light enough, can easily be mistaken for a white horse. 

Fun Fact #5: White Horses Are Not Albinos

While the pink skin under a true white horse may cause it to be mistaken for an albino, this isn’t accurate. Albinism is caused by mutations to the melanocytes (pigment cells), while a dominant white gene in a horse results from the absence of melanocytes. Historically, horse registries have accepted “albino horses”, though most of these terms have been updated as scientific knowledge has grown. The American Quarter Horse Registry is one such example, but in 1999 changed its “albino” term to “cremello” and “perlino”. To my knowledge, there are no documented cases of an albino horse (that is genetically accurate, I should say). 

Fun Fact #6: White Horses Are Subject to Sunburn

Because of the white skin of a true white horse, these animals are unfortunately subject to sunburn, particularly around the muzzle. This means that a true white horse will require protective measures in order to keep sun damage at bay – this can be accomplished through masks, shade, and even sunscreen. 

Fun Fact #7: White Horses Are Subject to Staining

Because of their light color, white horses (both true whites and mature grays) are also subject to staining. This is purely aesthetic and is most often a concern when it comes to showing. White horses don’t so much care about their coat color, and won’t hesitate to roll in the mud or the grass right before a competition. For this reason, “brightening” products such as shampoos are commonly used in the equestrian community.

Fun Fact #8: White Horses Make Beautiful Blank Canvases

If you’re tired of trying to brighten up your white horse’s coat – try painting it! Painting over a horse’s coat has been in practice for many years as an expression of culture, whether it be for art, for war, or for another purpose. There are several non-toxic, horse-safe paints to choose from, and you’re limited here only by your imagination. 

Fun Fact #9: White Horses Are Often Associated with Heroics

Most everyone is familiar with the quintessential hero riding in on his “white steed”. White horses are often used to symbolize strength, purity, and righteousness. Perhaps the most famous example of this is found in the Bible – specifically, the book of Revelation: “I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” Rev. 6:2. While most scholars believe this is referring to the Messiah, there are other interpretations as well.

Fun Fact #10: Pegasus is the Most Famous White Horse in Mythology

One of the most famous white horses in Greek mythology is the well-known Pegasus. He is depicted as a winged white stallion and is the offspring of Poseidon and Medusa (talk about a power couple). He was famously ridden by Bellerophon and as a pair conquered many a foe.

Fun Fact #11: Artax and Shadowfax Are Famous White Horses in Media

Perhaps the two most famous white horses in major motion pictures are Artax – the white steed from everyone’s childhood favorite “The Neverending Story”, and Shadowfax – the “greatest horse of Middle-earth” in the Lord of the Rings series. The “actors” of both roles were likely gray horses as opposed to true white, as evidenced by the darker skin around the eyes. 

Fun Fact #12: George Washington Rode a White Horse

In the painting Portrait of George Washington Taking the Salute at Trenton by John Faed, George Washington is depicted upon a white horse. Mr. Washington actually rode two white horses – Prescott and Jackson. Said of Prescott after George Washington’s death, he was “a fine parade horse, purely white, and sixteen hands high.”

Fun Fact #13: Napoleon I Rode a White Horse

Napoleon I of France famously owned a white war horse named Marengo. Marengo is believed to be the horse depicted in the painting Napoleon Crossing the Alps by Jacques-Louis David.

Fun Fact #14: The Camarillo White Horse is the Only Truly “White” Breed

The Camarillo White Horse is believed to be the only true white breed of horse. It’s an exceedingly rare breed that was originally developed in the 1920s and each individual can be traced back to the Spanish Mustang “Sultan”, a white horse purchased from the California State Fair in Sacramento. Almost all of these horses have been kept specifically by the Camarillo family, though today there are believed to be fewer than thirty Camarillo White Horses left across the globe. 

Fun Fact #15: The American Cream Draft is Often Mistaken for a White Horse

The American Cream Draft is another “color breed”, but while it is often mistaken for white, is not truly white at all. These are large, powerful horses and are known to be the only breed of draft horse developed in the United States. Its cream coat is a result of the champagne gene. American Cream Drafts have a cream coat, pink skin, and eyes ranging from amber to hazel.

There is a Lot More to White Horses than Meets the Eye

Though at first glance many people believe white horses to be an uncommon sight, the truth is they are even more rare than one may be led to believe. Many equestrians will go their entire lives without ever coming across a true white horse, and even the magnificent white steeds portrayed in movies and television are usually played by mature gray horses.

So the next time you hear a friend tell you about the beautiful white horse they saw while driving along the countryside, you can affectionately share with them that what they most likely saw was in fact a gray horse (or better yet, just smile and nod – no one likes a Know-It-All).

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