Is that because they are shorter over there
As to wire colors, there are a few code mandated requirements:
AC Neutral (current carrying grounded connector) White or Grey
AC Ground (safety non-current carrying grounded connector) Green or Green with Yellow stripe)
Beyond that, you are on your own. However, it is common but far from universal to see this:
120 VAC Line (hot, used for powering other devices) Black
3-phase line black with colored tape at ends uniform per phase - for example Red/Orange/Brown
120 VAC status or signal (used for switches and such) Red
Low Voltage DC Blue, sometimes but far from always Blue with White for -
Foriegn Volage (voltage supplied by a device outside the panel, which may remain live when the panel is powered down) Yellow