A genetic study of 50 Maori kindreds suggests club foot to be inherited as a polygenic trait as in Caucasians. A higher incidence of right foot involvement was present in the Maori. Empiric risk data indicated that if the index patient was female, the chance of subsequent children being affected was four percent. If the index patient was male, the chance of subsequent children being affected was nine percent, and if parent and child were affected, the chance of subsequent children being affected was 30 percent. These risks are much higher than found in Caucasians.