The year 2026 is the year of the horse! The Year of the Horse is a year about challenging yourself and finding opportunities on your own rather than waiting for them to happen. What better way is there to kick off the year with a list of the best, the most graceful, the most majestic equine anime characters ever?! There is only one rule in place here: only one character per series. (Otherwise this list would be overrun by Umamusume.)
Without further ado, here are Niko’s Top 10 Equine Anime Characters!
10. Jean Kirstein (Attack on Titan)
My coworkers are telling me Jean isn’t a horse, but I don’t think they understand what they are looking at. For the readers who do not understand as well, here is my argument on why Jean deserves to be on this list for the best equine anime characters.
Exhibit A.
9. Unio (Zenshu)
Unio may be more of an unknown character compared to the others on this list as he is from a Mappa original anime which aired during the Summer 2025 season. He’s a mascot-looking unicorn creature with powerful magic. He can be a little obnoxious, but his love for his best friend makes him just as loveable.
Although Unio often takes the form of a kigurumi-like mascot, he is also able to transform into a beautiful stallion…but I cannot tell you which one is his true form…
If you are a creator, or someone who has been inspired by a work of art, I highly recommend giving this anime original series a watch.
8. Slow Dancer (JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure)
So…Steel Ball Run is coming out very soon…so it would be quite rude to not include one of the many horses from this part out of the ranking. Because this arc revolves around the Steel Ball Run horse race, there are, of course, many candidates to choose from for this ranking.
In the number 8 spot, we have Slow Dancer, Johnny Joestar’s chosen steed for the race. Although this horse is an older one (11 years old), it does not make it weaker by any means. Look forward to Slow Dancer and Johnny’s in action in the upcoming anime! (Yes, it’s finally coming!)
7. Matsukaze Tenma (Inazuma Eleven GO)
He has 天馬(Pegasus) in his name and can transform into a literal horse/pegasus in Galaxy…so I’d say Tenma is allowed to be on this list! I am also unapologetically a huge Inazuma Eleven fan, especially of the GO series.
His passion for soccer and eagerness to give everyone around him a chance make him a great protagonist while also being unique from Inazuma Eleven’s first protag, Endou Mamoru.
After a long hiatus, the Inazuma Eleven series has returned with their newest game just a few months ago. With the anniversary coming around the corner, we expect more from this Super Soccer series!
Sakka Yarouze!!
6. Indramon (Digimon)
There are 12 Digimon called “Devas” which represent each of the Chinese Zodiac, which were one of the main villains in Digimon Tamers. Although there are many excellent horse-inspired Digimon, such as Pegasusmon and Unimon, the option I have selected for the Number 6 spot is Indramon!
Despite being a Holy Beast type Digimon, Indramon certainly has a menacing appearance , protraying the power that the Year of the Horse represents. The design choice to have Indramon be bipedal and the misbalanced size of its arms to the rest of its body also adds a nice, uneasy touch to their appearance. Hopefully we will get some media featuring the Deva all together again as they rarely are all usable in the same game…
5. Maron (Silver Spoon)
A manga about an agricultural high school and the protagonist, Hachiken, is part of the equestrian club. Of course, one of the beloved steeds from this series will be included! The author certainly gave this white stallion special care with his design and temperament. Especially when most other animals in the series have facial features that match their real-life counterparts.
Because of his more human-like eyes and round brows, Maron is portrayed with so much expression, making his personality all the more loveable! Maron’s goofy grin gives him the Number 5 spot on this list.
4. Ponyta (Pokémon)
You had to know there was bound to be a Pokémon in this list. Although there are few other equine Pokémon, such as Mudsdale, Keldeo, and Spectrier, for this list we have chosen the classic, Ponyta! And since they share a name, we can say both Ponyta (the Kantonian and Galarian) share this rank…yes?
Although the classic Ponyta’s concept is quite simple, sometimes the simplicity of a horse with fiery mane is enough to make an excellent design. In contrast, the most modern design of the Galarian, Fairy Type Ponyta really elevates and complements the original concept very well.
Pokémon adding the concept of variant forms for Pokémon with alternative types really was one of the best decisions for the series.
3. Shooter (Durarara!!)
Although Shooter (aka Cóiste Bodhar) is usually in the form of Celty’s motorcycle, his true form is an equine one. Like his headless rider, Shooter too lacks his head for the perfect fantasy Dullahan look. Despite his and Celty’s lack of ability to form words, you are able to really feel his personality through his subtle animations and actions.
I love how Shooter’s engine sounds like a horse neighing giving a perfect eerie vibe. And the contrast to Celty’s cute mannerisms and “voice” truly make the duo two of the most iconic characters in Durarara!! For this reason, Shooter is in 3rd place!
2. Yahya (Beastars)
In a world where herbivores are usually seen as weaker compared to their carnivore counterparts, Yahya is certainly a powerful character within the Beastars universe. Although he appears as a friendly ally in the beginning, due to his status of the titular Beastar, Yahya is actually a manipulative character who is willing do anything to achieve his own view of justice. He is also known as the “Black Devil” by his enemies for his cruelty towards those that are against his ideals.
Yahya will play a key role in the upcoming final season of Beastars, and I am certainly looking forward to this.
One question…when they are beastmen/furries, should horses (and other hooved animals) keep their hooves or have them replaced with hands/feet? I certainly prefer hooved feet for sure…hands could be either in my opinion. I’d like to hear everyone else’s thoughts!
1. Gold Ship (Umamusume: Pretty Derby)
Yes, we all knew that there was going to be an Umamusume character, but who could be the one Niko picked?
Gold Ship is such a great, silly horse, both in real life and in the series.
A free spirit with an element of unpredictability makes Gold Ship a fun character to see every time she appears, whether it be in the games or the anime. Her eccentric personality took heavy inspiration from her real-life counterpart—the light-coloured grey stallion known for his unpredictable temperament.
To be honest, the Umamusume used most in my account is Katsuragi Ace, but that would be more biased than what this blog already is.
Conclusion
Although many horses found in anime are only visible as transportation, we hope this list helps you find interesting characters and anime to watch during the Hinoeuma (丙午) year!
Were there any equine characters I missed? Or do you think another horse should have taken the number 1 spot? Leave a comment below!
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