American Cream

The Albino, or American Cream, originated in Nebraska in America in 1937 and can be credited to the efforts of Caleb and Hudson Thompson. The foundation sire was called Old King, of Arab/Morgan stock, who was purchased by the Thompsons in 1918.

Old King produced mainly pink-skinned, white-colored foals from a variety of whole-colored mares and the Thompsons used him on a herd of Morgan mares to create a breed of white-colored horses. Within the breed there are a wide range of differences in conformation, with the influence of the American Quarter Horse, the Morgan, English Thoroughbred, and Arabian showing in varying degrees from horse to horse.

Perhaps the Albino is less of a breed of horse and more of a color definition, although American Cream horses do all have similar characteristics, such as excellent learning and training ability. There is now more distinction between the two, the American Albino White Horse Club, and the breed has changed its name to that of American Cream. Despite the lack conformity regarding their conformation, the American Cream seems universally to be an intelligent horse, that is quick to learn with an excellent temperament, making them a very nice riding horse. These qualities have also led to them being widely used in the film industry and also in the circus. Traditionally, white horses were considered one of the most beautiful and desirable horses, being ridden by kings and queens and great Generals, while also featuring in folk stories and legends as having magical powers. More recently their color has been considered a sign of weakness, which is of course a myth.

Breeding the American Cream can be difficult because not all white horses produce white offspring. Within the breed there are four color combinations that are acceptable: an ivory white body with a lighter mane, blue eyes and pink skin; a cream body with darker mane, cinnamon-colored skin and dark eyes; both body and mane the same color cream, pink skin and blue eyes; and both body and mane the same darker cream, pink skin and blue eyes. On average, the American Cream horse stands at approximately 15.1 hh.