• About This Guide
  
• How This Guide is Being Developed
  
• Philosophy of this guide
  
• Using this Guide
  
• Thinking Scientifically
  
• About the Author
  
• Documented Genes
  
• What is a documented gene?
  
• Black/Red (MC1R)
  
• Bay (ASIP)
  
• Cream/Pearl (SLC45A2)
  
• Dun (TBX3)
  
• Gray (STX17)
  
• Silver (PMEL17)
  
• Champagne (SLC36A1)
  
• Roan/Tobiano/Sabino/White Spotting (KIT)
  
• Splash White (MITF/PAX3)
  
• Leopard Complex (TRPM1/ECA3P)
  
• Frame (EDNRB)
  
• Tiger Eye (SLC24A5)
  
• Height Regulation (HMGA2/LCORL)
  
• Mushroom (MFSD12)
  
• Hypothetical Genes
  
• What is a hypothetical gene?
  
• Borrowed Genes
  
• Glossaries
  
• Glossary of Colors
  
• Glossary of Terms
  

Champagne (SLC36A1)

• Last updated: 2026-01-19

  Common Names: Champagne

  Scientific Name: solute carrier family 36 (proton/amino acid symporter), member 1 (SLC36A1)

  Equine Chromosome:  14

  General Overview:

  The champagne gene evenly dilutes black pigment to a grayish brown and red to a peachy gold tone. The skin of champagne horses is pinkish to lavender with speckling, particularly on the nose, eyes, and genitals. Eyes are often amber to greenish in color. [1]
  
  Chestnut horses become a peachy golden color called gold champagne. They often have flaxen manes and tails, and can be easily mistaken for palomino. [2]
  
  Bay horses with champagne are called amber champagne. They end up a bronzy orange tone with slightly darker points. Manes and tails are darker than the body but can have heavy light color “frosting” and an overall orange tone. [2]

  
  

  Particularly dark bays and brown horses with champagne are called sable champagne. They have an overall mousy gray brown color with darker points. [2]
  
  Black horses become classic champagne. They can appear similar to sable champagnes with a mousy gray brown color and frequently darker points. [2]

• Citations:

  1. Cook D, Brooks S, Bellone R, Bailey E. Missense mutation in exon 2 of SLC36A1 responsible for champagne dilution in horses. PLoS Genet. 2008 Sep 19;4(9):e1000195. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000195. PMID: 18802473; PMCID: PMC2535566. https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1000195 
  2. “Basic Champagne Colors.” Ichregistry.com, 2019, www.ichregistry.com/colors.htm  Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.

• Examples:

  Classic Champagne E/? a/a Ch/?, Sable Champagne E/? A/? Ch/?

  

  
  

  Amber Champagne E/? A/? Ch/?, Gold Champagne e/e Ch/