• 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
  

Tiger Eye (SLC24A5)

• Last updated: 2026-01-19

  Common Names: Tiger Eye

  Scientific Name: Solute Carrier Family 24, Member 5 (SLC24A5)

  Equine Chromosome: 1

  General Overview:

  Tiger eye is found in the Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed of horse and causes lighter than normal eye coloration. Tiger eye lightens brown eyes to yellow, amber or even orange. There are two known alleles of tiger eye, TE1 and TE2. Tiger eye requires two copies. TE1/TE1, TE2/TE2, and TE1/TE2 all appear to be functionally the same.[1]

• Citations:

  1. Mack M, Kowalski E, Grahn R, Bras D, Penedo MCT, Bellone R. Two Variants in SLC24A5 Are Associated with "Tiger-Eye" Iris Pigmentation in Puerto Rican Paso Fino Horses. G3 (Bethesda). 2017 Aug 7;7(8):2799-2806. doi: 10.1534/g3.117.043786. PMID: 28655738; PMCID: PMC5555483. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28655738/

• Examples:

  A bay horse with TE1/TE1