Pokemon took the myths about horses before it took the animal. The first horse Pokemon, a pony with a fiery mane, may come from the horses of the Greek god Helios and from the fire horse of the Chinese zodiac. The nearest thing to a farm animal is a donkey that eats dirt, and it is the exception.
Ponyta is the Fire Horse Pokemon, a yellow pony with a fiery mane. Its design may come from the fiery steeds of mythology, such as the horses of the Greek god Helios or Skinfaxi of Norse mythology, and from the fire horse of the Chinese zodiac. Ponyta live in herds out in the grassland, and newborn foals lack their fiery manes, which develop about an hour after birth. (One hour of being a normal horse, and we hope they enjoy it.)
The Galarian form, found in the Galar region, may be based on a Shetland pony and modern depictions of a unicorn. Its signature ability, Pastel Veil, may come from the belief that unicorn horns can cure diseases and neutralize poisons. An ability is a passive effect that works on its own in battle.
#078
Rapidash
#078
Type
Fire
Category
Fire Horse Pokémon
National Dex
#0078
Debut
Gen I
Base stat total
500
Rapidash grows to 1.7 m tall. Its horn shows it may have been inspired by unicorns, but the rest of it looks a lot like a regular horse. It darts like an arrow across the land, and it can traverse the vast region of Hisui in a day and a half. We need a day and a half to answer one email.
Its Flash Fire ability protects it against Fire moves, and once it has blocked one, its own Fire moves deal 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.
Galarian Rapidash is based on more modern depictions of unicorns, and its inclusion in Galar may come from the unicorn being the national animal of Scotland.
#483
Dialga
#483
Type
SteelDragon
Category
Temporal Pokémon
National Dex
#0483
Debut
Gen IV
Base stat total
680
Dialga is the odd one here, since most of its body comes from short-necked sauropod dinosaurs such as Camarasaurus. The horse part comes from the qilin and the Longma, mythical creatures with both equine and dragon-like qualities. Its Dragon type pushes the dragon side further. The turquoise pattern on its body is vaguely reminiscent of clock hands, which fits the Temporal Pokemon.
It is revered as a deity in Hisuian legend, and its birth caused the vast river of time to begin flowing. It stands 5.4 m tall and weighs 683 kg. Somewhere a real horse is upset to share a page with a sauropod.
#493
Arceus
#493
Type
Normal
Category
Alpha Pokémon
National Dex
#0493
Debut
Gen IV
Base stat total
720
Arceus is based on a creator deity, and its design may also draw from fantastical beings such as centaurs and Sleipnir. Hisuian mythology states that Arceus is the creator of all things, and its luminance guides and protects all Pokemon.
Its six stats are all 120, for a base stat total of 720. Its ability, Multitype, changes its type and form to match the Plate it holds. The gold ring around its middle looks like a hula hoop on a big smug horse. (We cannot unsee the hula hoop now, and neither can you.)
#522
Blitzle
#522
Type
Electric
Category
Electrified Pokémon
National Dex
#0522
Debut
Gen V
Base stat total
295
Blitzle resembles a zebra foal. It may also be based on Bronte and Sterope, two of the steeds that pulled the chariot of the Greek sun god Helios, whose names are Greek for thunder and lightning.
Its mane shines when it discharges electricity, and Blitzle use the frequency and rhythm of these flashes to communicate. Talking by blinking your hair is beyond us, since we barely manage texting. It stands 0.8 m tall.
#523
Zebstrika
#523
Type
Electric
Category
Thunderbolt Pokémon
National Dex
#0523
Debut
Gen V
Base stat total
497
Zebstrika is based on a zebra, and it shares Blitzle's link to the thunder and lightning horses of Helios. Its species name in Japanese can be translated as the Thunder and Lightning Pokemon. It has lightning-like movements, and when Zebstrika run at full speed, the sound of thunder reverberates.
Its Motor Drive ability absorbs Electric moves and raises its Speed one stage instead of taking damage.
#647
Keldeo
#647
Type
WaterFighting
Category
Colt Pokémon
National Dex
#0647
Debut
Gen V
Base stat total
580
Keldeo, the Colt Pokemon, is most likely based on the Scottish legend of the kelpie, a supernatural water horse that sometimes appeared as a lost pony. It is also likely based on the kirin, sometimes called the Chinese unicorn, which is often shown with a single backward curving horn and the ability to walk on water.
The rest of the Swords of Justice draw on The Three Musketeers, and Keldeo may draw on d'Artagnan, the youngest of the group. Its tail even resembles d'Artagnan's feathered cap. It must survive harsh battles and fully develop the horn on its forehead before its true power awakens. We hear growing up is hard, and here the main event is a horn.
#749
Mudbray
#749
Type
Ground
Category
Donkey Pokémon
National Dex
#0749
Debut
Gen VII
Base stat total
385
Mudbray is based on a donkey, and its category is the Donkey Pokemon. It eats dirt to create mud and smears this mud all over its feet, giving them the grip needed to walk on rough terrain without slipping. A self-made hiking boot has our respect, though we will not try it.
It stands 1 m tall and weighs 110 kg. Its Stamina ability raises its Defense one stage each time a move hits it.
#750
Mudsdale
#750
Type
Ground
Category
Draft Horse Pokémon
National Dex
#0750
Debut
Gen VII
Base stat total
500
Mudsdale resembles draft horses such as the Clydesdale, known for the feathering on their legs, and its hair is based on dreadlocks. It has so much stamina that it could carry over 10 tons across the Galar region without rest or sleep.
It weighs 920 kg, and hauling that much and never napping is beyond us, since we need a lie-down after the shopping.
#896
Glastrier
#896
Type
Ice
Category
Wild Horse Pokémon
National Dex
#0896
Debut
Gen VIII
Base stat total
580
Glastrier, the Wild Horse Pokemon, may be based on the unicorn, the national animal of Scotland, which the Crown Tundra is based on. It may also be based on Shire horses and Clydesdale horses, and its large ice-covered hooves may be a stylization of their feathered hooves. The mask of ice covering its face is 100 times harder than diamond.
Its Chilling Neigh ability boosts its Attack after it knocks out a Pokemon.
Glastrier and Spectrier both serve Calyrex, a Pokemon known as a king, which rides them using the Reins of Unity, woven in part from hairs from the steed's mane. That may come from the legend of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland, said to be the only person ever to ride a Pooka, a mischievous faery in the form of a black horse.
#897
Spectrier
#897
Type
Ghost
Category
Swift Horse Pokémon
National Dex
#0897
Debut
Gen VIII
Base stat total
580
Spectrier, the Swift Horse Pokemon, is based on the Old English Black, an extinct horse breed that influenced the bloodline of modern Shire horses and Clydesdale horses. As a black horse that mostly appears at night, it may also take direct inspiration from the Pooka.
It absorbs the life force of sleeping creatures as it dashes through the night, and it craves silence and solitude. Finally, a horse that gets us. Its ability to prey on sleeping creatures may be a wordplay on mare, which in English means both a sleep demon and a female horse.
It weighs only 44.5 kg next to Glastrier's 800 kg, and its Grim Neigh ability boosts its Special Attack after it knocks out a Pokemon.
5 of the 11 Horse Pokemon Are Legendary or Mythical
Five of the 11 horse Pokemon are legendary or mythical (rare Pokemon tied to the game's big stories): Dialga, Arceus, Keldeo, Glastrier and Spectrier. Even the ordinary ones carry that history. Ponyta and Rapidash may come from the fiery steeds of Helios, and Blitzle and Zebstrika from the thunder and lightning horses that pulled his chariot.
Horse Pokemon FAQ
How many horse Pokemon are there?
There are 11 horse Pokemon. Seven of them have a horse word in their category, and Blitzle, Zebstrika, Dialga and Arceus were designed from zebras and mythical horses.
What is the strongest horse Pokemon?
Arceus, with a base stat total of 720. Among the horse Pokemon that are not legendary or mythical, Rapidash and Mudsdale tie at 500.
Is Arceus a horse?
No. Arceus is based on a creator deity, though its design may also draw from centaurs and Sleipnir.
Which Pokemon is a zebra?
Blitzle and Zebstrika. Blitzle resembles a zebra foal and Zebstrika is based on a zebra.
Is Keldeo a unicorn?
Yes, in part. Keldeo is likely based on the kirin, sometimes called the Chinese unicorn, and on the kelpie, a water horse from Scottish legend.
