In Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China, achaeologists working on the excavation of a Western Han Dynasty tomb complex discovered the skeletons of 5 horses. DNA testing on the horses has revealed their coat colours and one has been identified as having been a palomino.
We know golden horses have existed for centuries courtesy of ancient tapestries depicting these mythical golden horses so the genetic mutation that causes the colour has been probably been around nearly as long as the modern equine has. We don't however know exactly where the mutation first occurred.
We know golden horses have existed for centuries courtesy of ancient tapestries depicting these mythical golden horses so the genetic mutation that causes the colour has been probably been around nearly as long as the modern equine has. We don't however know exactly where the mutation first occurred.
Nevertheless, it's pretty awesome to think that every single cream dilute (palomino, buckskin, cremello, perlino, smokey black and smokey cream) in the world today has one single common ancestor!!
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Did you know?
"The Coast Guard in the United States used palominos to patrol beaches during World War II precisely because they blended seamlessly with the sandy environment, making them indistinguishable by enemy warships at sea.” - Danielle de la Mont in her article ‘Horses of Gold: The Palomino in History and Folklore.
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