Horse

For other usages, see Horse (disambiguation).

A typical horse in World of Warcraft.

A horse is a large four-legged, four-hoofed animal with a long face, substantial body, and fast, narrow legs. This is the primary mount for humans, which includes, only now to a lesser extent, the worgen of Gilneas. Horses are widely domesticated for riding and as beasts of burden, and those from good stock can live twenty years or more if cared for well.^[1] Wild, untamed horses can be found in several areas of Azeroth such as the Grizzly Hills, Hillsbrad Foothills, Arathi Highlands, or Gilneas, and are sometimes referred to as "mustangs".^[2]^[3]

Knights are traditionally horse-mounted warriors wading into combat astride their noble warhorses, and renowned for cutting bloody swathes through enemy ranks.^[4] Unlike ordinary horses, the warhorses are a breed apart, used only for specific purposes at specific times,^[1] and trained to act counter to their instincts.^[5] These trusty steeds have carried their human masters to battle since before the First War, and are known for their swiftness and spirited temperaments, thus these mounts are perfectly suited for their heroic riders.^[6]

The strong bond between the humans of Azeroth and their warhorses has existed for generations. However, since the fall of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, only select varieties continue to be bred throughout Alliance-controlled lands. Most prized among these are the stately Evendales of Elwynn Forest, renowned for their loyalty and even tempers. These horses command a hefty sum, but they reward their owners with steadiness and speed.^[7]^[8] However, Stormwind horse breeders don't sell their horses to those who are not exalted to the Kingdom of Stormwind. After years of quality breeding techniques and plenty of care, these steeds are the finest that can be found and they don't want them in the hands of their enemies.^[9]

Chargers are the spirits of former deathchargers^[10] redeemed by paladins through a sacred ritual.^[11] Those holy steeds are devoted to the cause of their owner.^[12]

Other variants, such as felsteeds, dreadsteeds, and wrathsteeds are types of demonic horses used by the Burning Legion and warlock champions. Skeletal horses and deathchargers raised from the dead through necromancy are commonly used by undead and the death knights. In the Shadowlands, Sinrunners are a type of horse in Revendreth, while Mawhorses can be found in the dreaded Maw.

Known breeds

War Party Hitching Post in the Trading Card Game.

Human nobles have long prized the palomino for its beautiful golden coat and flowing white mane.^[13]
The powerful and unyielding white stallion features heavily in the myths of ancient human tribes.^[14]
The brown horse is a favorite among Stormwind's guards thanks to its patience and stamina.
The black stallion is rumored to be favored by the SI:7 for night missions due to its dark coat.^[15]
Pintos are ideal for training young children in horseback riding due to their calm temperament.^[16]
Chestnut mares are known for being sturdy and steady, and are sometimes called "the horse that built Stormwind".^[17]
Swift Palominos are prized by horse breeders for their discipline and steadfastness.^[18]
The Black War Steed is trained to withstand brutal hand-to-hand combat in the fiercest battlefields.^[19]
Although raised in Stormwind, the Stormwind Steed showed unusual aptitude for the cold weather in Icecrown.^[20]
A special breed of wild mountain horses found in Gilneas. Known for their strength and ferocious demeanor, these horses are comfortable with their riders, including their more feral ones.^[21]
- Images of the Gilnean Mountain Horse are often found on kegs of watered-down dwarven brew.^[22]
- The Swift Mountain Horse longs for the day it may return to its home in Gilneas.^[23]
- The Vicious Gilnean Warhorse was born, bred, and, battle-tested in Gilneas.^[24]
Unicorns, or at least those ridden by high elves, are descended from a fine line of horses that once grazed near the shores of the Well of Eternity.^[25]
Horses in the Kul Tiras military are bred from an early age not to fear the sea, and revel in galloping along the shoreline and through the spray.^[26]
- Among the oldest horse breeds in Kul Tiras, the Smoky Chargers even led many a charge in the original struggle with the drust.^[27]
Warhorses are a breed apart, used only for specific purposes at specific times (mainly for the battlefield).^[1]
Desolace was once home to a unique breed of horse too proud and wild to countenance riders, until the Shadow Council transformed them into felsteeds through horrific dark rituals.^[28]

Notable horses

For a list of all known horses, see Category:Horses.

- Ancient Equine Spirit
- Argyle
- Arion
- Baby
- Beau <Chelsea's Horse>
- Blue Steel <Kosak's Faithful Companion>
- Brightmane
- Courageous
- Crowley's Horse
- Darkreaver's Fallen Charger
- Ducal's Horse
- Duke
- Hawthorne's Steed
- Human Charger
- Invincible (undead)
- Ladyfire
- King Greymane's Horse
- Mercutio (removed)
- Midnight
- Mirador
- Nell
- Nightsong
- Old Blanchy
  - Young Blanchy
- Pepper
- Pimento <Maximillian's Steed>
- Preston
- Redemption <Liadrin's Steed>
- Scout Knowles's Mount
- Steadfast
- Tatjana's Horse
- Trueheart
- Twinkles (celestial steed)
Ponies
- Darkmoon Pony
- [Brewfest Keg Pony]

As a mount

Main article: Horse mounts

Three types of epic mount horses are purchasable in Eastvale Logging Camp, formerly Southshore, Theramore, and, recently, the Stormwind City Command Center for 10. The PvP epic horse is the Black War Steed.

Additional info

Human and blood elf paladins ride warhorses and chargers, which are armored and dressed up horses, but with no different, non-appearance based features. Blood elf Warhorses are red, with golden horns.
Undead players ride skeletal horses as their mount.
Warlocks ride felsteeds or dreadsteeds, which are flaming demonic horses.
Different breeds of horses can be purchased from stables in Eastvale Logging Camp, Menethil Harbor,and Stormwind City for 10. Southshore had a stable available until the town was destroyed by the Forsaken, and Theramore also used to have a stable available without phasing until it was destroyed by the Horde.
A Black Stallion can be purchased at Menethil Harbor or Stormwind City. This is a standard level 20 mount with no special requirements.
The Gilneans, like other human nations, have used horses for years, but their current stock is a hardy mountain breed. They are apparently comfortable enough with their available breeding stock to offer the animals for purchase to the rest of the Alliance out of Darnassus.

As a hunter pet

Main article: Courser#As a hunter pet

Horses are tamable by hunters as part of the courser family.

In the RPG

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Heavy warhorse in the Alliance Player's Guide.

Horses are known to have been used by the Pandaren.^[29] A horse not trained for war does not normally use its hooves to attack.^[30]

Types

Light horse

These are smaller breeds of working horses. These animals are usually ready for useful work by age two. A light horse cannot fight while carrying a rider. A light load for a light horse is up to 150 pounds; a medium load, 151–300 pounds; and a heavy load, 301–450 pounds. A light horse can drag 2,250 pounds.^[30]

Quarter horse
Arabian
Wild horse

Heavy horse

These are large breeds of working horses. These animals are usually ready for heavy work by age three. A light load for a heavy horse is up to 200 pounds; a medium load, 201–400 pounds; and a heavy load, 401–600 pounds. A heavy horse can drag 3,000 pounds.^[30]

Clydesdale

Light warhorse

These animals are similar to light horses, but are trained and bred for strength and aggression. They usually are not ready for warfare before age three. A light warhorse can fight while carrying a rider, but the rider cannot also attack unless he is good at riding. A light load for a light warhorse is up to 230 pounds; a medium load, 231–460 pounds; and a heavy load, 461–690 pounds. A light warhorse can drag 3,450 pounds.^[30]

Heavy warhorse

Muscles ripple beneath this animal’s white coat. It snorts and paws the ground. Heavy warhorses are trained and bred for strength and aggression. Human knights ride such beasts into battle. A heavy warhorse can fight while carrying a rider. In battle, a heavy warhorse lashes out with its hooves and, if one gets lucky, it bites off the enemy’s face.^[31]

Pony

A pony is a small type of horse, under 5 feet tall at the shoulder. They are similar to light horses and cannot fight while carrying a rider. A pony not trained for war does not normally use its hooves to attack but rather to run. A light load for a pony is up to 75 pounds; a medium load, 76–150 pounds; and a heavy load, 151–225 pounds. A pony can drag 1,125 pounds. They are solitary and are usually found on temperate planes.^[32]

Warpony

A pony that is trained for war. It can use its hooves to attack. This animal's statistics would fall between a Light Horse and a Light Warhorse.^[33]

Steam horse

The first steam horses were built by the Alliance for patrols traveling the arid savannah of the Barrens in eastern Kalimdor, where grazing was sparse. The rider sits in the saddle atop the four-legged machine and guides it just as they would a living mount. It moves at 60 miles per hour and has a crew of 1.^[34]

Notes and trivia

The Highlord's Golden Charger is known as the fanciest of all of the horses.^[35]
A horse can only be ridden at least three years after its birth, before that they are still babies growing and whose bones are still forming.^[1]
Horses are used to having a saddle; it is part of the slow and patient breaking process to get them accustomed to having something on their back.^[1]
The knights, priests, and nobles of Lordaeron had the informal tradition of naming their steed by a quality they admired.^[36]^[37]
Some blood elves in Quel'Thalas prefer riding horses rather than hawkstriders.^[38]
When Thrall sought the Spirit of the Wilds, he met the Spirit of all horses and convinced it to make horses throw their human riders.^[39]
Hearthstone: The Grand Tournament shows Clockwork Knight riding a mechanical horse as a mount.
Created by Gelbin Mekkatorque, the mechanostrider provided an effective method of personal transport, finally putting the gnomish race on par with the humans and their chargers.^[40]