The mutation causing red body and red trim (called sorrel, chestnut, or red) in donkeys has been identified in the melanocortin 1 receptor gene and is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
Donkeys in several breeds have darker pigment around the muzzle, eye rings, belly, and upper and inner aspects of the legs and are described as having no light points (NLP).
White spotting patterns occur in many donkey breeds and are similar to those of horses in that the amount of white can range from a few white hairs to an animal that is almost completely white. Two variants have been identified in donkeys that contribute to white patterning (W and Wˢ).
