Pearl Register

Dilutes Australia Pearl Register for studbook and non-studbook pearl horses and ponies

Registration and Membership Applications


Studbook Pearl Register: mares & stallions - must have 2 registered parents. Proof must be provided. Must PASS conformation standards.

Non-studbook Pearl Register: mares & stallions - either one or both parents are unknown / unregistered / unproveable. Must PASS conformation standards. These pearls have full showing rights.

Gelding Register: may have either registered or unknown / unregistered / unproveable parentage. Must PASS conformation standards.

Photo courtesy of Yeguada Paco Marti, Spain

Ownership requirements:

The owners of all pearls must be current financial members of the Association. Should an owner cease to be a financial member, the registration of all horses registered in his or her name will be suspended until such time as said owner rejoins the association, at which time the registration of all horses registered in his or her name will be reinstated

Standard of excellence:

A pearl shall meet the standards of conformation (breed characteristics being irrelevant) prescribed by the Board. To be considered for PEARL STUDBOOK, NON-STUDBOOK or GELDING registration, a pearl must gain the required conformation marks prescribed by Board and fulfill the following:

  • Must be a genetic pearl dilute. May be either heterozygous or homozygous for pearl or be a pearl/cream composite.
  • Have a body free from imperfections and free of white spots except those caused by accident.
  • Be permitted white markings on the face and legs only, the legs not to be white above the knees or hocks save for a continuous diminishing spear or stripe running above the knee or hock. NO pearl may have ANY white markings (ie belly splashes) other than those permitted under the Regulations of the Company.  Notwithstanding this, an owner may apply to have a horse or pony accepted for registration under the company's hardship clause which allows for small amounts of underbelly white.

  • Not be bleached or dyed
  • Not exhibit any appaloosa characteristics. Solid horses and ponies with appaloosa/palouse/spotted pony parentage must be DNA'd for Lp and must return a negative result to be eligible for registration as a solid pearl.  Pearls carrying Lp can be registered as DA Non Solid Dilutes.

Shades of pearl registered by the company:

Pearl carriers (heterozygous ie 1 copy) carrying dun, silver, champagne or mushroom will be registered as those dilutions; however, owners currently have the option of composite registration as a pearl.  Horses carrying 1 copy of pearl and 1 copy of cream are ONLY eligible for registration as pearls due to the double diluting effects of the 2 genes ie skin and eye colour do not conform to the regulations for palomino or buckskin / smoky black registration.

The following genetic combinations are currently eligible for pearl registration:

BAY PEARL - 2 copies of pearl on bay

BROWN PEARL - 2 copies of pearl on brown

BLACK PEARL - 2 copies of pearl on black

CHESTNUT PEARL - 2 copies of pearl on chestnut

BUCKSKIN PEARL - 1 copy of cream + 1 copy of pearl on bay

BROWN BUCKSKIN PEARL - 1 copy of cream + 1 copy of pearl on brown

SMOKY BLACK PEARL - 1 copy of cream + 1 copy of pearl on black

PALOMINO PEARL - 1 copy of cream + 1 copy of pearl on chestnut

+ ALL OTHER SOLID PEARL COMBINATIONS

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