• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Horses
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Care
    • News
    • Fun
    • Heartwarming
    • Videos
    • Rescue
    • Horse Fun
    • Tips For Riders
    • Fun Facts
    • Stories
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Fun Facts

    All About The Cremello Horse

    Modified: May 29, 2020 by ihearthorses · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Unusual and beautiful with a pinch of a majestic appearance, the Cremello horse has a cream color with no markings and a white mane and tail. Blue eyes and pink skin are also a physical trait of Cremello horses. They almost look like they galloped right out of a fairytale, don't they?

    white horse on green field

    Is Cremello a Color or a Breed?

    Cremello is actually just a color and can be found in any breed. The color results from the color genetics of the dam and sire. The most common breeds to find the unique coloring are Quarter Horses, Shetland Ponies, Draft Horses, and Saddlebreds just to name a few. The base color of a Cremello is actually red or chestnut. Two cream dilution genes on a chestnut horse (double diluted) are responsible for the unique color. It all comes down to genetics and base colors.

    Palominos are chestnuts with one cream dilution gene and a Buckskin is a bay with a cream dilution gene. A Cremello has two cream dilution genes, making them double diluted. Remember Punnet Squares back in Biology class? By breeding two Palominos together, there is a 25% chance the foal will have both cream genes resulting in a Cremello color!

    Portrait of cremello horse with blue eyes on dark blue nature backgroundBlue-eyed Cremello akhal-teke horse portrait

    Perlino Horses

    Close to the Cremello color, a Perlino horse has a bay base color instead. Perlinos have the cream-colored coat, but instead of a white mane and tail, theirs is darker than their coat color. Perlino horses still have pink skin and blue eyes. Instead of breeding Palamino horses, Buckskin horses are used in the hopes of having a Perlino horse, resulting in a double dilute color of a bay horse.

    horse runs on the grass on dark forest background

    Now that we have had a crash course and refresher on biology and genetics, here are a couple of interesting facts about Cremello horses:

    Confused with Albino

    Many people try to call a Cremello horse an albino horse because of their appearance. Indeed, their blue eyes, pale coat, and pink noses make them look that way, but albino horses are born white and have no pigment. Cremellos may appear white, but when compared to a white horse, it is obvious they are a cream color. Cremello foals are also born of with blue eyes and of a darker color usually, and fade to the light cream.

    Cremello horse runs on the grass on dark forest background

    Shunned by AQHA

    For the longest time, a Cremello and Perlino Quarter Horse or horses of double dilute were not able to be registered by AQHA. With the help of Cremello and Perlino Educational Association, the AQHA withdrew their rule about registering Cremello horses in 2003. Today, there are people across the world breeding these horses just for the color itself.

    white cremello horse portrait on the blue sky

    Cremello horses are a science. The reasoning behind their unique color is interesting and the result of their genetics is that of a majestic looking horse with gorgeous blue eyes. Now that you have an understanding of where a Cremello horse comes from, the next time you hear someone call a horse albino, you have the information you need to stop them in their tracks!

    About the Author

    Dani Buckley is a small-town resident in Montana. She is a veterinary technician manager and mom of eight four-legged kids – 5 dogs, 1 cat, and 2 horses. When she moved back home to Montana, her horses and her dogs moved with her (Carbon and Milo). The pack grew by three when she moved in with her boyfriend, Cody. Altogether there is a German Shepard (Lupay), a Border Collie (Missy), a Blue Heeler (Taz) and her two adorable mutts.

    Horse Courses by Elaine Heney

    • Listening to the Horse - The Documentary by Elaine Heney & Grey Pony Films
    • Shoulder In & Out Training for better balance, bend & topline development with your horse
    • Over 110+ Polework Exercises & Challenges to Download
    • Dancing at Liberty & Creating Connection with Your Horse (11 lessons) - Grey Pony Films
     

    Her horses are her free time passion – Squaw and Tulsa. Dani has owned Squaw for 17 years and this mare has made 2 trips across the country with Dani! Squaw is a retired rodeo and cow horse. Her other mare, Tulsa, is an upcoming ranch horse. The girls have an unmatched personality and bond with Dani. She has been around horses her entire life and rodeoed throughout highschool and beyond. Now, she enjoys riding on the ranch, working cattle and trail riding.

    Sources: [1], [2], [3]

    More Fun Facts

    • 10 Top YouTube Channels for Horse Lovers
    • 17 Inspirational TikTok Horse Accounts To Lift Your Spirits
    • 27 Mistakes Books and Movies Make About Horses
    • Horse with show ribbon
      5 Unique Ways to Display Horse Show Ribbons in Your Home

    Sharing is caring!

    24.1K shares
    • Share23.8K
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kelly Gebhardt

      May 21, 2020 at 10:44 am

      Hi!
      Thanks for the info. My Gruella colt has thrown 4 Cremellos. However we did not intend on him standing any mares, he is clever and escaped into the field. I was a nervous wreck with multiple mares foaling. But with our vets help all went well. It was amazing though to see that every foal was a Cremello. They are so beautiful. Wish I could share a picture.

      Reply
      • Jo

        October 23, 2021 at 8:45 am

        Kelly Gebhardt WoW lucky you : ) By the sounds of it, you had him gelded #Sob One womans headache is anothers best dream.

        Reply
    2. Jo

      October 23, 2021 at 8:48 am

      Who has the Highest % ARABIAN Cremello in the World ?? I am up to "Sierra Lodge The Illusionist" 90.6% is the highest cremello Arabian colt in Australia. Who can beat that ?

      Reply
      • Randy Bonde

        October 15, 2022 at 6:17 pm

        tell more please or where can i go to get more information

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    Recent Posts

    • 10 Top YouTube Channels for Horse Lovers
    • 11 Horse Gadgets and Apps for Tech Lovers
    • 11 Surprising Christmas Ideas for Horse Lovers
    • 6 Of The Best Places to See Wild Horses in the US
    • 7 Top Podcasts for Horse Lovers (Trending Now)

    Categories

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    iHeartHorses.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 · iHeartHorses Inc.

    24.1K shares
    • 23.8K

    Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy