The feral herds on Assateague haven't been color tested but we can figure some things out with observation. The color of the pony, their parents, and their offspring can tell us a lot about their color genetic makeup. Visit the pages for the Virginia and Maryland herds to see the herd ponies' presumed color genetics. Use the legend below to interpret the data.

Herd Color Genetics Legend

e/e

E/e

E/E

E/?

A/a

A/A

A/?

a/?

a/a

CR/n

TO/n

TO/TO

SW1/n

Possible

chestnut/red.

One copy of black and one copy of recessive chestnut.

Two copies of black. Foals cannot be chestnut.

Has one copy of black, Unknown if carries a copy of recessive chestnut.

One copy of agouti/bay. Foals can be bay or black.

Two copies of agouti/bay. Foals cannot be black.

One copy of agouti. Other unknown

Has produced a black offspring so cannot have two copies of agouti.

No copies of agouti/bay.

One copy of the cream dilution.

One copy of tobiano pinto.

Two copies of tobiano. All foals are tobiano.

One copy of Splashed White 1.

Pony may have this, but not yet determined.