Pangare - Extensive "mealy points" on Mules. Donkeys will have the familiar 'white points' or "mealy markings" about 90 percent of the time in large Standard or Mammoth Jackstock.  This is actually uncommon in most horses breeds, but can be seen in the Fjord, Exmoor, Thoroughbred, and Belgian with some regularity.  The absence of the Light points (mealy, or NLP - No Light Points) is common in the majority of horse breeds, and becoming more so in Miniature Donkeys.  It is not favorable in Mammoth Jackstock.

In donkeys, the mealy points are usually off-white, and occur around the muzzle, eyes, belly, and sometimes are "extensive" - meaning under the throatlatch, up onto the breast, and onto the flanks and thighs.  Some animals will have light eyerings and muzzle but a dark belly.  There is also evidence in the donkey that a single dose of the P (pangare) will give only a tan partially-light muzzle and dark eyerings.  The genetics for the Pangare in donkeys is P - dominant, for white points; p, recessive for none.  It would be very easy to breed the white points off of donkeys in a very short amount of time.  Luckily, as the NLP donkeys are a novelty and not favoured by all, this is not likely to happen soon. PP x PP = PP, PP, PP PP (Both parents PP, all foals will have light points) PP X Pp (mother has Intermediate black muzzle, foals will be = PP, Pp, PP,  Pp - two will have the recessive for nlp and will likely show it visually on their points. Pp x Pp = PP, Pp, Pp, pp - one foal will have no light points.  Two are carriers of nlp and will likley have intermediate features, one will be straight PP dominant. Pp x pp - Pp, pp, Pp, pp - Two foals will have the recessive, two will have no light points. pp x pp = pp, pp, pp, pp.  All foals will have no light points.

In many cases, but not all, the Light points in the mule are tan instead of white.  However, in draft mules, where the mare may also have pangare (such as Belgians) the mealy marks may be more extensive and of a much lighter shade.  Note that although this mare's face cannot be seen, she is a sorrel flaxen (Belgian) and has traces of pangare at her flanks.  The mule has a very white muzzle, eyerings, and flank pangare markings.

John Henry, a draft mule john out of a black Percheron mare, has more of the tan coloration familiar in mules.  Note that he also has areas of red bordering the mealy areas.  This is also common, and is also a requirement in the black-based Poitou Donkey breed.

Muley is a miniature mule, and shows the tan coloration common in mules.  The pangare is present on his belly, but from side view is not visible in foal coat with the exception of small areas on his inner forearm and stifles. Below, Muley napping shows the light points (yes, he was not yet castrated at 6 months of age.  But he is now!!!)

This bay mule foal shows the tan coloration around the muzzle and eyes.  The lips and eyelids are still black.

Here is another blonde sorrel draft mule that shows extensive white points, as does the mule behind him.  The passing along of the blonde coloration makes it easier to produce perfectly matched teams of mules.

This mule is a dark bay.  The light points are present, but so subtle as to blend in with bay coloration.  The areas where the red (bay) are most apparent are the face, chest, breast, belly and thighs.  A smaller area of tan (not red) can be seen between the bit and the nostrils, and just as highlighting around the eye.  This kind of coloration in bay mules is common.

To show that the pangare does not usually change to a great extent, here is Wishing Star Farms Jubilation T (aka Curly) .  His sire was a black Standard jack with a regular white nose, his dam a chestnut Quarter pony mare with no pangare.  As a foal, he had tan points most prominant on his face.  As an adult (right) he still has the tan muzzle, and clear pangare markings on his thighs and forearms, but not high onto his breast or stomach.

Left, Give Me A Pat, (Patti) Curly's Dam.

Right is Molly Rose, a seal or dark bay Percheron mare.  She also has the pangare markings, very similar to those on the mule (Curly).  It is seen most prominantly on her muzzle, belly, and her thighs (look near her tail).  Many bay mules have this very same coloration.

This black and white photo of a bay Percheron-cross Draft mule named Jackson illustrates the sharp contrast of the pangare on the mule.  The mare above would very likely produce a mule with this kind of extensive white.

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