A "dark bay" is a horse coat color characterized by a rich, deep brown body with black points, which include the mane, tail, and lower legs. This color is often confused with black, but dark bay horses typically have a lighter brown or reddish hue on their bodies, especially in sunlight. The coat can appear almost black in certain lighting conditions. The genetics of a dark bay horse involve the presence of the bay gene, which allows for the brown coloration, combined with the black gene that influences the darker points. Dark bay is a common color in many horse breeds, including Thoroughbreds and Arabians.