If dogs hadn’t stolen our hearts first, horses would certainly be human’s best friend. In the world of video games, horses are the best animal companion you could ask for. They’re a quick, natural means of exploring untamed wilderness. Plus, horses will haul all of the spare armor and swords that you just can't bring yourself to part with and listen to you tell yourself that you aren't really a hoarder.
Whether heading into unexplored regions or charging into battle, journeying with a horse makes the road a little less lonely and they will always stick by your side even if it means giving their lives. Of course, not all horses are created equal. These are the best horses a gamer could ask for, the ones you want to appear every time you whistle.
Growing up on Zelda games means a lot of time spent in the saddle with Epona. Players find her as a foal on Lon Lon Ranch, raise her, feed her carrots and apples, and save Hyrule Kingdom on her back. Since Ocarina of Time, Epona has been there every step of the way, and Link would be nowhere without her. Some horses are content to be majestic steeds, but Epona is a hero in her own right. Link would be nowhere without her, and we would be nowhere without Link so let’s thank our lucky stars Epona is around.
The world of Shadow of the Colossus is a lonely one. It’s vast and beautiful, but also sparse and empty. Main character Wander, on a mission to kill the only other living creatures in the world, isn't there to make friends either. Luckily, he has his horse, Agro. Throughout his adventure, Agro is always there, ready to help Wander take on his next challenging foe. Some of the most epic fights in Shadow of the Colossus are only possible with Agro and Wander knows it. There’s real panic in his voice when he’s cornered by a Colossus and calling for Agro to get him out of trouble. Over the course of the game, players form a real bond with Agro to the point that his “death scene” is as heartbreaking for us as it is for Wander. It’s later revealed that Agro survived his accident, and if seeing Agro limping out of the shadows isn’t enough to bring tears to your eyes you have no heart.
For all of Witcher hero Geralt's grumpiness, it's somehow cute that he names every one of his horses Roach. The first Roach must have meant a lot to him and if she was anything like the Roach in the Witcher 3, it’s easy to see why. Sure, Roach will occasionally run off in a random direction or refuse to walk over a small piece of lumber. But she also somehow teleports to you when you call her and helps you carry those enormous severed heads of monsters on her saddle.
Unlike other horses, Roach also gets the chance to talk. In one very memorable sidequest in the Blood and Wine expansion, Geralt downs a hallucinogenic that allows him to talk with Roach and learns she's more than a simple pack animal. Roach is truly dedicated to her “human,” playing detective to help Geralt find clues and track down a wraith. It turns out Roach is just as complex as every other character in Witcher 3. She just doesn’t get the chance to show it very often because of the whole horse thing.
The Undead Nightmare expansion opened up the floodgates for all kinds of supernatural stuff in Red Dead Redemption. The entire Wild West was overrun with zombies, sasquatches, and chupacabras but the coolest addition to John Marston’s world were the Four Horses of the Apocalypse: Famine, Pestilence, War, and Death. Each mythical horse came with a special power, but Death, as you might expect, was the coolest and most powerful steed in John’s stable.
Death leaves a cool looking ghostly trail behind it, but more importantly it kills, or more accurately decimates, any zombies it touches. Just brushing against Death causes a zombie’s head to explode, which creates loads of fun when riding through a zombie horde on your ghostly steed. If that isn’t good enough, Death is also damn near invincible.
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Every Horse In Skyrim (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
It would be easy to put Shadowmere, the powerful, red-eyed Dark Brotherhood mount, on this list, but honestly every horse in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim deserves a shout-out. These animals just don’t give a damn. Horses are fierce in the world of Skyrim. Turn your back, and your steed might throw down with a pack of wolves or a bear and probably win. These fiery steeds might not always be convenient — especially when they get themselves killed — but they deserve credit for their take no grief attitude. We’ll take a horse that’s straight outta Skyrim over Shadowmere any day.
Rapidash isn’t technically a horse it’s a Rapidash Pokemon but let’s be honest: That’s a flaming horse. Rapidash is a horse with a fiery mane and flames sprouting from its feet that make it both a beautiful and deadly creature. Rapidash is extremely quick, able to reach 150 mph in only ten steps, and what it can’t outrun, Rapidash can burn with a variety of fire attacks. This is not a horse, or a Pokemon, to be messed with.
