The 20 Most Famous Horses in History

If you’ve ever heard of Alexander the Great, you’ve probably never heard of his colossal black stallion of the same name. Legend has it that, when Alexander was still just a teenager, he was the only one who could calm this wild horse, which was once believed to be completely “untamable.” After turning the horse away from the sun so it wouldn’t be frightened by its own shadow, they won many battles together across Asia.

Napoleon Bonaparte had a vast stable, but Marengo was undoubtedly his favorite mount for the most decisive moments of his reign. This small but sturdy Arabian stallion carried the Emperor into famous battles such as Austerlitz and the fateful Battle of Waterloo. Although he was wounded eight times in combat, he lived to the ripe old age of 38.

When people are asked to name the fastest horse of all time, it’s a safe bet that Secretariat comes to mind. Not only did he win the Belmont Stakes in 1973, but he crushed all his opponents by 31 lengths. Even his heart was larger than that of any other horse—three times as big—which explains how he was able to reach such incredible speeds.

At the height of the Great Depression, a small horse with bow legs named Seabiscuit became a symbol of hope for millions of struggling Americans. His early trainers considered him lazy and too small. His victory over War Admiral, the Triple Crown winner, in 1938 remains one of the most famous moments in sports history, as it proved that even a small horse could win.

The Roman emperor Caligula certainly had his eccentricities, but that didn’t stop him from spoiling his favorite horse. According to some ancient texts, Incitatus slept in a marble stall equipped with an ivory feeding trough and sometimes wore purple blankets fit for an emperor. While many rumors claim that Caligula wanted to appoint Incitatus as consul, these were most likely fabricated to insult the Roman Senate.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Little Bighorn, a sturdy gelding named Comanche was found riddled with arrows but still standing. He was the only survivor of the 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment found on the battlefield, which instantly made him a symbol of military resilience. For the rest of his life, he was retired from service and allowed to walk on the parade ground as “second in command.”

While Napoleon was riding from Marengo to fight his final battle at Waterloo, his opponent, the Duke of Wellington, was riding Copenhagen. Rumor has it that the duke’s horse tried to bite him on their return from the battlefield, after spending 17 straight hours in the saddle. He was eventually buried on the duke’s estate in England, where a memorial stone still honors him today.

During the Korean War, a small Mongolian mare named Reckless became an indispensable member of a recoilless rifle platoon. She is particularly famous for making 51 round trips on her own in a single day during a decisive battle, carrying ammunition up steep slopes under heavy fire and protecting wounded soldiers. Her courage was so extraordinary that the Marine Corps officially promoted her to the rank of staff sergeant.

Roy Rogers fans know Trigger as the charming palomino who won the hearts of Americans. In addition to being incredibly handsome, he learned more than 100 different tricks over the course of his career, including signing his name with an “X” using a pencil. Not only did Trigger have his own fan club, but he remains one of the smartest horse actors of all time.

Before Secretariat came along to brighten up the racing scene with his chestnut coat, America had already fallen under the spell of Man o’ War. He lost only one of his 21 races and would have remained undefeated if bettors had deigned to wager on him. Bookmakers refused to take bets on him because it was always obvious that he would win by a wide margin.

Phar Lap was an imposing horse who dominated the Australian horse racing scene in the 1930s, winning the prestigious Melbourne Cup, among many other titles. His sudden and mysterious death in the United States sparked widespread outrage in his home country, leading many to believe he had been poisoned by jealous rivals.

For many years, Black Jack trotted in American military funerals as a ceremonial horse. Presidents John F. Kennedy, Herbert Hoover, and Lyndon B. Johnson all arranged for Black Jack to lead their funeral processions, with his boots dangling backward in the stirrups, to symbolize that their riders would never return. He died in 1999 after participating in more than 1,000 ceremonies.

General Robert E. Lee’s favorite horse, Traveler, was renowned for his incredible stamina and his iron-gray coat throughout the American Civil War. He remained by Lee’s side during the most intense moments of the conflict and even accompanied the general into his postwar life. The bond between them was so strong that the horse took part in Lee’s funeral procession, outliving his master by only a few months.

Say what you will about today’s horses, but in 1760, there was only one true star on British racetracks: Eclipse. Betting on him had become so popular after his eight consecutive victories that bookmakers eventually banned bets on him altogether. Today, most thoroughbreds can trace their lineage back to this exceptional stallion.

Hurdle races are incredibly grueling, but Red Rum made them look as easy as a walk in the park by winning the Grand National three times in the 1970s. He is the only horse ever to have achieved this feat. His comeback in 1977, at the age of twelve, is still considered one of the greatest moments in British sports history.

“Hi-yo, Silver! Let’s go!” is one of the most iconic lines in the history of film and television, and it wouldn’t exist without the Lone Ranger’s magnificent white stallion. While several horses have played this role over the years, the most famous of them was a white Tennessee Walker that perfectly embodied the hero’s noble image. He helped define the aesthetic of the American Western and inspired countless children to dream of having their own faithful horse.

Simón Bolívar, nicknamed “the Liberator,” traveled for many years on his white horse named Palomo. This horse had been given to him by one of his peasant supporters before he set out on his journey toward South American independence. After dying of exhaustion toward the end of his life, historians dubbed him “the Horse of Independence” because of his devotion to Bolívar.

Arkle was one of the fastest show jumping horses of all time in Ireland and the United Kingdom. His impressive jumping ability was so superior that officials even changed the rules of the game to give other horses a chance to win. Many tourists make the pilgrimage to the National Stud of Ireland just to see Arkle’s skeleton.

While Roy Rogers had Trigger, his wife, Dale Evans, was no slouch either, as she also owned a spirited horse named Buttermilk. Although he was a bit of a handful in his younger days, Buttermilk mellowed considerably as Dale and he grew older, and they starred together in several movies. She even wrote a book about her beloved horse and the fans who wrote to her after reading his story.

Shergar was kidnapped by armed men on Valentine’s Day in 1983, after winning the Epsom Derby by 10 lengths and retiring to become a stallion. Having earned 2 million pounds during his lifetime, his ransom was set at 2 million pounds, but it was never paid, and he has not been seen since. Rumors continue to circulate about his whereabouts.