The coloration condition that causes the pale coat of white lions is leucism.
Leucism is a reduction or absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair, feathers, or scales. In white lions, it produces fur ranging from pale blond to almost white, while pigment usually remains visible in the eyes, lips, and paw pads. White lions are therefore not automatically albinos, and their pale appearance does not mean they lack every form of pigment.
White lions are a rare color variant of the southern African lion rather than a separate species or subspecies. The trait is associated with a recessive genetic variant, so two normally colored lions can produce a white cub if both carry the relevant allele. Selective breeding in captivity has made white lions much more familiar in zoos and private collections than in the wild.
Leucism is commonly confused with albinism. Albinism primarily disrupts melanin production and can affect the eyes, whereas leucism generally leaves the eyes normally pigmented. Melanism is the opposite pattern: an excess of dark pigmentation.