Predicted to enable DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific and RNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding activity. Acts upstream of or within branchiomeric skeletal muscle development and regulation of response to tumor cell. Predicted to be located in nucleus. Is expressed in several structures, including dermomyotome; hindbrain neural keel; neural crest; skeletal muscle; and trunk. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Waardenburg syndrome; Waardenburg syndrome type 1; Waardenburg syndrome type 3; alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma; and craniofacial-deafness-hand syndrome. Orthologous to human PAX3 (paired box 3).