Splashed White (SW), also known as splash or splash overo, is a pinto pattern. Chincoteague Ponies have been tested to have Splashed White 1 (SW1).
Heterozygous splashed whites are often not visibly pinto and have normal, even minimal, white markings. The white markings will sometimes be crooked or skewed. Occasionally they will have spots making them a visibly pinto. The minimal white of heterozygous splashes can give the impression that the pinto or blue eyes appear out of nowhere.
Homozygous splashes are obviously pinto. They have a distinct look to them and look like the pony was dipped feet first in white. In the absence of testing the appearance of a distinctive homozygous splashed white can be used to confirm the existence of splash.
Splashed whites frequently have one or two blue eyes. Homozygous splashes
have two blue eyes. Heterozygous splashes often only have one, a
partial blue eye, or do not have them at all. Splash is the common
source of blue eyes in (non double dilute) Chincoteagues. No independent
blue eyed gene has been identified in horses.
There is a test available for 10 versions of splash. Splashed White 1 (SW1) is found in many breeds and is the one that has been found in Chincoteagues. The first was a granddaughter of Surfer Dude, Suplee's Little Angel, and it has since been found in multiple others. SW1 has also been found in Misty family. The SW1 mutation is located on the MITF gene.
The other versions of splashed white are mostly from specific breeds and bloodlines and are unlikely to be found in Chincoteague Ponies. It's not beyond the realm of possibility however. There are other versions of splash that have not yet been isolated. Obviously visually splash horses have tested negative for the testable versions.
Splashed White 2 (SW2) has been found in Quarter Horses/Paints, Norikers, and Lipizzaners. The SW2 mutation is located on the PAX3 gene. SW2 horses may be deaf.
Splashed White 3 (SW3) is the TD Kid line of Paints.The SW3 mutation is located on the MITF gene.
Splashed White 4 (SW4) originated with a Freiberger gelding who had no offspring. The SW4 mutation was located on the PAX3 gene.
Splashed White 5 (SW5) is from a line of Appaloosas. The SW5 mutation is located on the MITF gene. SW5 horses may be deaf.
Splashed White 6 (SW6) originated in the Quarter Horse and Paint Horse stallion Urge. SW6 is located on the MITF gene. SW6 horses may be deaf.
Splashed White 7 (SW7) is found in Quarter Horses and Paint Horses. SW7 is located on the MITF gene. SW7 horses may be deaf.
Splashed White 9 (SW9) was originally found in Andalusians. SW9 is located on the MITF gene.
Splashed White 10 (SW10) was originally found in Andalusians. SW10 is located on the PAX3 gene.
Splashed White 2 (SW2) has been found in Quarter Horses/Paints, Norikers, and Lipizzaners. The SW2 mutation is located on the PAX3 gene. SW2 horses may be deaf.
Splashed White 3 (SW3) is the TD Kid line of Paints.The SW3 mutation is located on the MITF gene.
Splashed White 4 (SW4) originated with a Freiberger gelding who had no offspring. The SW4 mutation was located on the PAX3 gene.
Splashed White 5 (SW5) is from a line of Appaloosas. The SW5 mutation is located on the MITF gene. SW5 horses may be deaf.
Splashed White 6 (SW6) originated in the Quarter Horse and Paint Horse stallion Urge. SW6 is located on the MITF gene. SW6 horses may be deaf.
Splashed White 7 (SW7) is found in Quarter Horses and Paint Horses. SW7 is located on the MITF gene. SW7 horses may be deaf.
Splashed White 9 (SW9) was originally found in Andalusians. SW9 is located on the MITF gene.
Splashed White 10 (SW10) was originally found in Andalusians. SW10 is located on the PAX3 gene.
It's likely splashed white predates the introduction of tobiano in Chincoteague Ponies considering that heterozygous splash whites often do not look pinto. A photo of a splashed white pony in Bit and Spur from 1910 was described as a Chincoteague Pony. Splashed white was probably also introduced into Chincoteagues during the outcrossing that brought in tobiano. Splashed white is found in Shetlands and Welsh Ponies who were crossed into Chincoteagues. Splashed white is found in both the Virginia and Maryland feral herds, although untested in the Maryland herd. Misty of Chincoteague, born in 1946, may have had splashed based on her skewed blaze.
Heterozygous Splashed White 1
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Flaxen chestnut heterozygous splashed white. Has one blue eye. Sired several homozygous splashed whites and offspring tested positive for SW1.
Surfer Dude (Pirate x Gremlin) Pedigree |
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Chestnut heterozygous splashed white. Color tested as SW1.
Misty's Red Dawn (Tuffer Than Leather x Misty's Morning Glory) Pedigree |
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Sooty chestnut heterozygous splashed white 1. Color tested as SW1.
Wave Runner's Phantom of the Waves (Surfer Dude x Diamond's Jewel) Pedigree Photo courtesy of Rebekah Hart. |
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Black heterozygous splashed white. Blue eyes. Untested but from a known and tested family. Son tested as SW1.
CLG Surfer's Blue Moon (Surfer Dude x Got Milk) Pedigree |
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Sooty flaxen chestnut heterozygous splashed white. Ancestor of tested splashed whites.
Gremlin (Gordo x Gremlin's Mom) Pedigree |
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Chestnut heterozygous splashed white. Color tested as SW1.
Wave Runner's Kenzie (Ken x Kimmee Sue) Pedigree Photos courtesy of Rebekah Hart. |
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Dark chestnut heterozygous splashed white. Blue eyes. Untested but from known splashed white family.
SurfersRedHot&Blue (WH Salt Marsh x WH Fireball) Pedigree |
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Sooty dark chestnut heterozygous splashed white foal. Untested but from a known splashed white family.
2024 colt (WH Salt Marsh x Martee Luna) Pedigree |
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Dark chestnut heterozygous splashed white. Produced heterozygous and homozgyous splashed white foals.
Unforgettable (Hurricane x Just My Style) Pedigree |
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Chestnut heterozygous splashed white. Has a blue eye and a belly spot. Untested but has splashed white foals.
Star Gazer Pedigree |
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Chestnut heterozygous splashed white. Has a partial blue eye. Produced a homozygous splashed white.
Diamond's Jewel (Courtney's Boy x Unforgettable) Pedigree |
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Flaxen chestnut heterozygous splashed white. Has sired homozygous splashed white foals.
Surfer's Riptide (Surfer Dude x Surf Queen) Pedigree |
Homozygous Splashed White 1
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Chestnut homozygous splashed white. Untested. Full sister to below filly.
2001 filly (Surfer Dude x Island Breeze) Pedigree |
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Chestnut homozygous splashed white. Untested. Full sister to above filly.
Sea Breeze Blue (Surfer Dude x Island Breeze) Pedigree Photos by Kelly Lidard. |
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Chestnut homozygous splashed white. Color tested as SW1/SW1.
Wave Runner's Artistic Expression (Wave Runner's Phantom of the Waves x Wave Runner's Kenzie) Pedigree |
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Dark chestnut homozygous splashed white as a foal and as an adult.
Surfer's Rouge Wave (Surfer Dude x Thetis) Pedigree |
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Bay homozygous splashed white in the 1970s.
First photo from a postcard. Second photo by Joseph Spies from Atlante magazine. |
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Homozgyous splashed white Chincoteague Pony in 1910.
From the Bit and Spur. |
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Chestnut homozygous splashed white foal.
Undated postcard. |