Color Breed

A color breed refers to groupings of horses whose registration is based primarily on their coat color, regardless of the horse's actual breed or breed type.

Some color breeds only register horses with a desired coat color if they also meet specific pedigree criteria, others register animals based solely on color, regardless of parentage. A few pedigree-based color breeds, confronted with the reality of many animals born without the proper color even though they are from two registered parents, have modified their rules to allow registration of animals with the proper pedigree even if they do not possess the proper color.

Many horse breeds, such as American Quarter Horses, Tennessee Walking Horses and American Saddlebreds include individuals of the palomino color, as well as a wide variety of other colors. However, a color breed registry, such as the Palomino Horse Breeders Association (PHBA), accepts only palomino (or palomino-looking) horses—regardless of their particular breeds. Thus, Palominos can be considered a color breed. Another example is the pinto horse color. Horses of many breeds can be registered as Pinto if it they have the correct spotting pattern. White horses also once had their own color registry that included cremello horses, but not grays.

Many horses eligible for registration with their own breed registry and are of a particular color are often "double registered" with both organizations, often increasing their sale value by doing so. With stallions, double registration may also increase their breeding value by widening the set of interested mare owners.