The lovely American Albino (more recently called American Cream and White) horses are white, they are not technically albino (albinism it doesn’t exist in horses). This misnomer is probably why they have moved away from the albino name.
A Little Backstory
It all started with a white stallion named Old King who had a knack for producing white foals with colored Morgan mares. His breed genetics were unknown, but his color genetics were spectacular. While Old King’s genetics were unsure, there was obviously speculation. It’s likely he carried a cream dilution gene, which are fairly commonly found in animals of Iberian descent, even in the wild.
The American Albino registry was established in 1936 to keep track of Old King’s studbook and a year later the American Albino Horse Club was formed to promote American animals with white coats. The name was eventually changed to American White and American Creme Horse Registry and they register based on color genetics rather than breed type. There are several white patterns and dilution genes that can produce a white animal with pink skin and light eyes. This registry seems to be limited to horses with either cream, some champagne or a combination of the two dilutions.
What Makes Them Special
They are absolutely beautiful. A double dose of the cream dilution affects all pigments of a horse, regardless of the base color. Champagne doesn’t dilute as strongly on darker bases, but when combined with cream the colors can be out of this world. To learn more about them, be sure to visit the American Albino Horse page
Quick Facts
Native to United States.
American White and American Creme Horse Registry
They are not listed in the DAD-IS.