Tobiano being the most prevalent pinto pattern, is found in the Puerto Rican strain of Paso Fino and in North American bred

Paso Finos of blended strains.  Since tobiano is a dominant gene, the chances of offspring carrying the tobiano pattern are at least

50%.  Add in the fact that when tobiano exists in the homozygous state the chances increase to 100%, making tobiano the easiest

of the Paso Fino pinto pattern to encorporate in to a breeding program.

The breeding of two heterozygous (each horse having one tobiano gene) tobiano horses can produce tobiano(Tt)

(heterozygous - one parent passed tobiano gene) 50% of the time, tobiano (TT) (homozygous - both parents passed tobiano gene)

25% of the time and SOLID (tt) (no tobiano pattern from either parent) 25% of the time.

Breeding a homozygous tobiano to a heterozygous tobiano will produce tobiano(Tt) (heterozygous - one parent passed tobiano

gene) 50% of the time, tobiano (TT) (homozygous - both parents passed tobiano gene) 50%.

The breeding of two homozygous (each horse having two tobiano genes) tobiano horses will produce tobiano (TT) (homozygous - both parents passed tobiano gene) 100% of the time.

                                                                    

Now, with the number of breeders increasing along with genetic testing advancements, we are seeing not only an increase in popularity but and increase in the number of Paso Finos with the tobiano pattern.

The tobiano pattern does not blend with other patterns and modifiers to create a new pattern, however individual phenotype can be influenced by the presence of the sabino pattern or white modifiers making for very unique and expressive markings. 

If you love the Paso Fino breed, and enjoy the addition of color, adding tobiano to your breeding program may be a great way to express yourself.

Definitions of terms

Dominant - alleles with same effect on the phenotype whether it is present in heterozygous or homozygous form

Recessive- alleles which only have effect on phenotype is present in homozygous form

Genotype - the alleles possessed by an organism

Phenotypes     - the physical expression of the genotype

Genes     - Chemicals which are arranged in a particular pattern in the DNA which make up the chromosomes

Genetic   - an heritable factor that controls a specific characteristic

Homozygous   - having two genes for a specific characteristic –

Heterozygous  - having one genes for a specific characteristic. 

Inheritability     - the ability to genetically pass on a specific trait

Allele              - any of two or more genes that have the same relative position on chromosomes, responsible for alternative characteristics

Locus             - the position of a particular gene on a chromosome

Polygenic       - more than just one gene controlling expression

Rabicano - ticking (flecking or roany type patches) typically found on the barrel, flank and tail dock

Rount      - larger blotches of frothy type ticking, typically found on belly, girth,under side of flanks and between hind legs.

Warshield       - dark patch on underside of neck, on chest and into front legs typically found on the tobiano pinto.

Tobianos may have an equal amount of  color and white or be predominantly dark or white, the amount of white, and placement is not indicative of homozygousity and while some lines are known for strong resemblence of markings or   placement, it is nearly impossible to predict the amount of white an offspring may have or the placement of markings. 

"Incomplete" tobianos, now classified as crypt tobiano is a near solid colored horse with stockings, or nearly no white at all.  They have in fact inherited atleast one tobiano gene from one parent (they can be homozygous) and will throw the tobiano pattern to offspring (heterozygous 50% of the time, homozygous 100% of the time)

Tobianos have been documented in the Paso Fino breed as far back as the 1920s, and includes champion show        horses as early as the 1940s.  Early importers of Paso Fino were intrigued by and valued the Paso Finos that they could find that displayed pinto patterns and included them in the first herds brought here from Puerto Rico,  but the promotion of the "traditional" Paso Fino (no excessive white) dominated the breeding direction of Paso Finos here in the USA.  It was more than 4 decades before the Pinto Paso Fino garnered the popularity that it has today, this has restricted the gene pool and slowed the progress of breeding the tobiano gene in to the Paso Fino breed.  It was not until the last 10 years or so that homozygous tobianos could be found with any regularity within the Paso Fino breed.