Bay (A) is one of the three base colors and is found in most all horse breeds. Ponies are either black, chestnut, or bay with some ponies having other colors diluting/modifying the base color. Extension and agouti form the basis of all equine color. Extension determines whether or not a pony has black or not and agouti restricts that black to the points. Bays have the dominant form of agouti and the dominant form of extension. Agouti restricts black to a bay's legs, mane, and tail while the rest of the body is a shade of brown. There is a genetic test available for bay. A bay that has one copy of extension will generally be lighter in color than ones that have two copies. For a pony to be bay it must have at least one parent that is bay based or has a chestnut parent carrying Agouti unseen.
The shades of bay can go from near black to red to light sandy brown, but all have black manes and tails and black legs. The sun often lightens the black mane and tail and gives it lighter brown highlights. Bays often have black around the edges of the ears. The eyes and skin of bays are dark. Bay pinto ponies are occasionally referred to as being tri-colored.
Black/bay has long been known to suppress white markings. In general black or bay based ponies will be less flashy than chestnut based ponies.
Black/bay has long been known to suppress white markings. In general black or bay based ponies will be less flashy than chestnut based ponies.
Bay is likely an original color in Chincoteagues as it is widespread and the breed was originally all solid dark colors. A 1891 article in the New York City newspaper The Sun stated that the ponies "are most frequently black, gray, sorrel, or dun [buckskin]." Leonard D. Sale wrote in 1896 in The Horse Review of Chicago that, "The prevailing colors are bay, brown, chestnut and light sorrel. A Washington Post article from 1902 stated that the prevailing colors were bay and black. A 1923 St. Petersburg Times article described the ponies as "bay, gray, dun (buckskin), black, and sorrel". A Delmarva Star article describing the 1930 Pony Penning described the ponies as "many colored", with blacks, browns, bright bays, and so many with spotted coats."
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Solid bay in summer and winter coat. Both parents are bay but he carries recessive chestnut.
Effie's Papa Bear (Sockett to Me x Mermaid) Pedigree |
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Solid bay in winter coat. Sire is a bay tobiano and dam is buckskin but he carries recessive chestnut.
Little Dolphin (Rainbow Warrior x Landrie's Georgia Peach) Pedigree |
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Bay tobiano. Very little black on legs due to white socks.
Rainbow Swirl (Rainbow Warrior x Surfin Scarlett) Pedigree |
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Bay Chincoteague pony from 1911.
The Baltimore Sun on September 17, 1911 |
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Group of Chincoteagues with a couple who appear to be bay.
Early 1900s postcard. |