25 Magical Horses from Mythology & Folklore

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Discover the stories behind these legendary horses of lore

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Unicorn

2 Pegasus

3 Hippocampus

4 Kelpie

5 Centaur

6 Hippogriff

7 The Trojan Horse

8 Hippalectryon

9 Sleipnir

10 Arion

11 Epona

12 Tianma

13 The Mares of Diomedes

14 The Nuckelavee

15 Widow-Maker

16 Four Horses of the Apocalypse

17 Árvakr and Alsviðr

18 Hayagriva

19 Uchchaihshravas

20 Chollima

21 Tulpar

22 Kanthaka

23 Al-Buraq

24 Brag

25 Keshi

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Co-authored by Lance Hewison and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: July 8, 2026 Fact Checked

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Humans and horses have worked together for centuries, so it’s no surprise these majestic animals appear in myths and folktales from around the world. We interviewed mythology experts to bring you a list of some of the most famous and unique mythical horses across cultures. Saddle up!

Illustration of Famous Mythological Horses

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• Unicorns: Pure white horses with a spiraling horn in the middle of their forehead.
• Pegasus: A winged horse from Greek mythology.
• Kelpie: A shapeshifting water demon that appears as a horse to lure in victims.
• Centaur: A half-horse, half-human creature from Greek mythology.
• Sleipnir: Odin’s 8-legged horse from Norse mythology.

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1

Unicorn

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1. 
   A unicorn is a horse with a spiraling horn. Traditionally, unicorns are pure white and have a spiraling horn in the middle of their forehead. They’re often associated with purity, grace, and magic, and in many legends, they have healing powers and can only be captured or tamed by a virgin.

   • Unicorns are often considered one of the cutest mythical creatures.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Julia VanderHoeven is a Greek and Roman mythology and ancient history scholar. She shares engaging and informative insights on mythology and history on her Instagram page @museofmythology.

   Maria Souza is a comparative mythologist with over 7 years of experience. She is the founder of the Women & Mythology podcast and the author of Wild Daughters, a mythopoetic work that offers inspiration to women.

   Emma Cairo is a Scandinavian folklore and spirituality expert. She hosts the Nordic Magic Link podcast, which explores Nordic Shamanism.
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2

Pegasus

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1. 
   Pegasus is a winged horse from Greek mythology. In modern interpretations, “Pegasus” has come to refer to a race of winged horses, but in the original myth, Pegasus was the name of a specific winged horse. Greek and Roman mythology expert Julia VanderHoeven explains that he was sired by Poseidon and was born from Medusa’s blood when Perseus decapitated her. According to legend, Pegasus carried lightning bolts for Zeus.

3

Hippocampus

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1. 
   A hippocampus is a half-fish, half-horse creature from Greek mythology. Hippocampi are typically depicted with the upper body of a horse and the lower body of a fish. They served as the primary steeds for the sea god Poseidon and were often depicted drawing chariots. They were also believed to help sailors in distress.
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4

Kelpie

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1. 
   Kelpies are shapeshifting water spirits from Celtic mythology. According to comparative mythologist Maria Souza, kelpies are malevolent spirits who appear as horses to lure their victims to a watery death. When a human gets on their back, they become stuck. Kelpies are also known to eat their victims. They can also appear as attractive humans to trick people.

5

Centaur

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1. 
   Centaurs are half-horse, half-man creatures from Greek mythology. Greek mythology expert Lance Hewison says that centaurs have the torso and head of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse. They’re traditionally depicted as men and are known for being barbaric and lustful. Some centaurs, like Chiron, were known for being wise and civilized.

   • Some people get centaurs confused with the Minotaur. The Minotaur is half-human, half-bull.
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6

Hippogriff

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1. 
   A hippogriff has the front half of an eagle and the hind half of a horse. Hippogriffs were invented in the 16th century, first appearing in Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, but they were popularized by modern fantasy series like Harry Potter. They’re born from the coupling of a mare and a griffin and are known for being incredibly fast. Some legends say they can even fly around the moon.

   • While their names are similar, there is a difference between hippogriffs and griffins. Both are part eagle, but griffins have the body of a lion rather than a horse.

7

The Trojan Horse

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1. 
   The Trojan Horse is a giant wooden horse from the Trojan War. While not a living horse, the Trojan Horse is one of the most notable horses from Greek mythology, confirms Hewison. During the Trojan War, the Greeks constructed a large, wooden horse and offered it to the Trojans as a victory gift. They secretly hid inside so they could sneak into the city and destroy it.
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8

Hippalectryon

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1. 
   In Greek mythology, the hippalectryon is half-horse, half-chicken. It is a rare hybrid creature with the front half of a horse and the wings, tail, and hind legs of a rooster. Hippalectryons were frequently painted on vases, often with a rider. These creatures may have been associated with Poseidon and used to protect ships, but this is unclear.

9

Sleipnir

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1. 
   Sleipnir is an 8-legged horse from Norse mythology. Scandinavian folklore expert Emma Cairo says that in Norse mythology, Sleipnir is Odin’s 8-legged steed and is the fastest of all horses. In most legends, he is the son of Loki and Svaðilfari. Sleipnir is mentioned in several stories, including the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda.
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10

Arion

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1. 
   Arion is a famously fast horse from Greek mythology. Most accounts state that Arion was the offspring of Poseidon and Demeter. He was given to the hero Heracles, and Arion saved the lives of Adrastus, king of Argos, during the war of the Seven against Thebes. He also competed in and won the first Nemean Games.

11

Epona

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1. 
   Epona is the Celtic goddess of horses, fertility, and abundance. In some myths, Epona can shapeshift into a horse, while in others, she is depicted riding side-saddle, surrounded by foals. She is the protector of mares, foals, ponies, and donkeys. In some legends, she and her horses help guide souls to the afterlife.
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12

Tianma

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1. 
   Tianma are flying horses from Chinese folklore. Tianma are typically depicted with wings and dragon-like features, and they’re heavily associated with Han Dynasty Emperor Wu. They were believed to sweat blood and serve as messengers between heaven and earth.

13

The Mares of Diomedes

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1. 
   The Mares of Diomedes are man-eating horses from Greek mythology. The four fierce horses are named Podargos, Lampon, Xanthos, and Deinos. They belonged to the Thracian King Diomedes until Heracles captured him and fed him to the horses. This was Heracle’s eighth labor.
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14

The Nuckelavee

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1. 
   The Nuckelavee is a skinless sea demon from Orcadian folklore. This malevolent creature is described as a monstrous, skinless, horse-like being that has a human torso fused into its back. It’s known as the “devil of the sea” and spreads plague, drought, and crop blight.

15

Widow-Maker

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1. 
   Widow-Maker is an untamable horse from American folklore. According to the story, Widow-Maker belongs to the legendary folk hero Pecos Bill. He is notably fast and fierce and is reportedly the only horse that Pecos Bill could ride. Widow-Maker is featured in Western stories and Disney’s Melody Time (1948).
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16

Four Horses of the Apocalypse

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1. 
   In Biblical lore, the Four Horses of the Apocalypse signal the end of times. The Four Horsemen (and their respective steeds) are symbolic figures of divine judgment before the Last Judgment. The white horse represents conquest and the Antichrist, the red horse represents war, the black horse represents famine, and the pale horse represents death.

17

Árvakr and Alsviðr

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1. 
   In Norse mythology, Árvakr and Alsviðr pull the chariot of the sun. Árvakr (meaning “early wake”) and Alsviðr (meaning “very quick”) are two horses that pull the sun goddess Sol’s chariot across the sky each day. According to legend, Sol is unable to stop driving the chariot or Sköll, a giant wolf, will catch the sun and devour it.
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18

Hayagriva

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1. 
   Hayagriva is a horse-headed avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. Hayagriva has a horse’s head and a human body. He’s the deity of knowledge and wisdom, and he’s often shown holding a book. Hayagriva is typically depicted with a fully white body, wearing white clothes, and sitting on a white lotus, which symbolizes pure knowledge triumphing over ignorance and darkness.

19

Uchchaihshravas

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1. 
   Uchchaihshravas is a 7-headed flying horse from Hindu mythology. According to legend, Uchchaihshravas was created during the churning of the ocean. It is considered the best of horses and is often described as a vahana (vehicle) of Indra, the Vedic god of weather. Some also say the horse belongs to Bali, the king of the asuras.
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20

Chollima

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1. 
   Chollima is a legendary winged horse in East Asian mythology. Also known as Qianlima or Senrima, this winged horse is said to be too fast and elegant to be mounted by a mortal. It’s named after its ability to travel 1000 li (Chinese mile) in a single day. It originated in China, but is also a part of Korean and Japanese mythology.

21

Tulpar

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1. 
   Tulpar is a winged horse from Turkic mythology. Similar to Pegasus, Tulpar is a legendary flying horse, often depicted as a white or black steed. Its wings are sometimes invisible, and it is said to run faster than a storm. Tulpar originated from Central Asian hunting traditions, as people used both horses and falconry birds.
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22

Kanthaka

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1. 
   Kanthaka was the beloved white horse of Prince Siddhartha (Buddha). In the Buddhist tradition, Kanthaka is renowned for his loyalty and role in the Great Renunciation, when Buddha abandoned his luxurious life to begin his path to enlightenment. Kanthaka carried Buddha away from his palace. When the two were separated, Kanthaka supposedly died of a broken heart.

23

Al-Buraq

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1. 
   Al-Buraq is a winged, horse-like creature in Islamic tradition. According to legend, Al-Buraq carried the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem and through the heavens in a single night. In Hadiths, Al-Buraq is frequently described as a white animal, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, with wings on its sides.
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24

Brag

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1. 
   A brag is a shapeshifting goblin from Northumbrian folklore. These goblins often take the form of a horse or donkey. They allow unsuspecting humans to ride on their backs, then buck them off into a pond or bush. They’re mainly harmless tricksters.

25

Keshi

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1. 
   Keshi is a horse demon from Hindu mythology. According to legend, Keshi was sent by Krishna’s evil uncle, Kamsa, who was destined to die at Krishna’s hand, in an attempt to prevent his death. Keshi assumed the form of a huge horse that galloped at the speed of thoughts, wore the earth with his hooves, and scattered clouds in the sky with his mane. Krishna ultimately defeated Keshi, and the story is told in the Hindu scriptures of Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, and Harivamsa.

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• Question

  Are there any mythical horses in British folklore?

  

  Amelia Roberts
  British Culture Expert

  Amelia Roberts is a British culture expert and content creator based in Shropshire, England. With over 6 years of experience creating content, Amelia is known as @BritishFolklore on Instagram. She is particularly interested in medieval medicine and medicinal practices, the etymology of surnames, and exploring castles and other historic properties in the UK. Her content covers folklore and history rooted in the British Isles. She is also a native Welsh speaker. As well as being a qualified nurse, Amelia has a degree in Agriculture and a diploma in Advanced Anatomy and Physiology.

  

  Amelia Roberts

  British Culture Expert

  Expert Answer

  We definitely have! Mari Lwyd is probably the most famous one, she's a very decorated horse skull on a stick that visits houses during the holidays for lyrical challenges. Win the battle and she moves on. But if you lose, she comes inside to drink your cider and eat your pies. She's actually having quite the comeback lately, which is brilliant to see!

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