Pearl, also called "Barlink factor", can lighten the coat, mane, tail and eyes of horses. One copy of pearl has no effect. Two copies of pearl dilute the horse to an apricot color with pink, mottled skin and amber-colored eyes.
Colors
Chestnut pearl
Chestnut pearl is a horse color caused by two copies of the pearl dilution on a chestnut base. The coat, mane and tail are apricot in color.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Black pearl
Black pearl is a horse color caused by two copies of the pearl dilution on a black base. The coat is apricot/tan in color with darker points.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Bay pearl
Bay pearl is a horse color caused by two copies of the pearl dilution on a bay base. The body is apricot in color with darker points.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Cream combinations
Cream and pearl are located on the same gene and together create "pseudo-double dilutes".
Palomino Pearl
Palomino pearl is a horse color caused by one copy of pearl and one copy of cream on a chestnut base. The coat, mane and tail are a creamy color.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Smoky black pearl
Smoky black pearl is a horse color caused by one copy of pearl and one copy of cream on a black base.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Buckskin pearl
Buckskin pearl is a horse color caused by one copy of pearl and one copy of cream on a bay base. They have a creamy color with darker points.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Gene
MATP gene
The MATP gene is responsible for the dilutions cream, pearl, sunshine and snowdrop in horses.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Presence in horses
The pearl dilution likely originated in Iberian horses (Andalusian, Lusitano) and can, as a result, be found in breeds with Iberian horse ancestry, including breeds such as the Quarter Horse.
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