Horses of Middle-earth

Horses are an important element in the fantasy world of Middle-earth created by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Races of horses

Mearas

The Mearas were a breed of wild horses in the north of Middle-earth in the J.R.R. Tolkien legendarium. Their mortality is equal to Men and their intelligence and strength are extraordinary. They descend from Felaróf, who was tamed by the first King of Rohan, Eorl. Ever since, they have been been the mounts of the King and Princess of Rohan alone. During the War of the Ring, however, Gandalf the Grey tamed Shadowfax, lord of the Mearas at the end of the Third Age.

Individual horses

Arod

Arod was Legolas's Horse in The Lord Of The Rings Series. He was the grey/white horse given to him by the Riders of Rohan in the Two Towers.

Asfaloth

Asfaloth is the horse ridden by the elf who meets Strider and the Hobbits shortly before they arrive at Rivendell (Glorfindel in the book, Arwen in Peter Jackson's film version).

'Ride on! Ride on!' cried Glorfindel, and the loud and clear he called to the horse in the elf-tongue: noro lim, noro lim, Asfaloth! (which is Sindarin for 'ride on').

Bill the Pony

Bill is bought by Frodo Baggins and his companions in Bree, as they fled the Shire on their way to Rivendell. This was necessary as their own ponies had been stolen from the stables of the Prancing Pony inn, where they spent the night. Bill was purchased from Bill Ferny, who was in league with the spies who stole the other ponies. Ferny was a cruel man who tormented Bill, but after being purchased by the hobbits Bill became a much happier pony. He was given the name 'Bill' by Sam Gamgee shortly after the party left Bree.

After arriving in Rivendell, Bill became acquainted with other ponies, and this influence resulted in a good deal of self-improvement. He left Rivendell a much wiser pony, not to mention healthier and happier.

He accompanied the Fellowship of the Ring from Rivendell to the doors of Moria, but had to be left behind there because the company could not take a pony through the mines of Moria. But being a wise pony by this point, he managed to survive on his own and travelled back to Bree, where he eventually hooked up again with Sam on his return trip.

Fatty Lumpkin

Fatty Lumpkin is the pony that is ridden by Tom Bombadil. In The Fellowship of the Ring, the Hobbits' (Sam, Merry, Pippin and Frodo) own ponies get to know Fatty Lumpkin and manage to find him after the Hobbits encounter a fog on the Barrow Downs.

Firefoot

Firefoot was a horse of Rohan, and he bore Éomer and Gimli from Edoras to Helm's Deep prior to the Battle of the Hornburg.

Felaróf

The first of all the Mearas, Felaróf was a wild foal when he was captured by Léod, a tamer of horses and father of Eorl the Young. The white foal grew quickly into a strong, proud horse, that no man could tame. Nevertheless, Léod attempted to mount it, but when he did, it bore him away and finally threw him to the ground, where he struck his head on a rock, and was killed. At only sixteen, Eorl became the leader of the Éothéod, and vowed to find the horse, and avenge his father. Long he hunted, but when at last he caught sight of the horse, he did not slay it, but in a loud voice called out, naming it 'Mansbane', and summoned it to recieve a new name. To the wonder of Eorl's companions, the horse turned and came before the young King. He named the horse Felaróf, and commanded it to serve him, in repayment for the death of his father. Then he mounted Felaróf, who submitted to his will. And Eorl rode the mighty stallion in that manner ever after, without bit or bridle, and Felaróf would suffer no other to mount him. The horse lived to a great age, and his descendants were as long lived as Men. Felaróf bore Eorl into the Battle of the Field of Celebrant, in which they won a famous victory that led to the founding of Rohan. Felaróf was later slain in battle, along with Eorl, on the northern plains of Rohan.

Hasufel

Hasufel was given to Aragorn by the Riders of Rohan in The Two Towers, the Second Book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Aragorn forms a strong Bond with himm and the horse ends up saving him later on in the plot.

Nahar

Nahar (from the Valarin Næchærra) was the horse of the Vala Oromë. It was the neighing of Nahar that alerted Oromë to the presence of the Quendi when he came upon them for the first time.

Rochallor

The mighty horse of Fingolfin, High King of the Elves. Rochallor bore the King to the gates of Angband, where a desperate and fearless Fingolfin challenged Morgoth to single combat.

Roheryn

The name means 'horse of the lady' in Tolkien's invented Elven language, Sindarin; this stems from the horse being gifted to Aragorn by his lady-love, Arwen.

Roheryn was brought to Aragorn in the South by his kinsman Halbarad during the War of the Ring, prior to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Shadowfax

Shadowfax is a mighty horse of Rohan, the chief of the Mearas, tamed by Gandalf and reluctantly granted as a gift to him (after Gandalf had borrowed him for some time) by King Théoden of the Rohirrim. No Man could tame Shadowfax. He would not tolerate a bridle or saddle, and only carried Gandalf by choice. The great horse also bore a hobbit, Pippin, for a short time during the War of the Ring.

Like the other Mearas, Shadowfax was a grey/silver stallion, and could understand the speech of Men. He was also seemingly fearless, and could run faster than any other horse in Middle-Earth.

Shadowfax is thought to have passed West over the Sea with his master but this is unclear in the works of Tolkien. In French, he is known as fr:Gripoil.

Snowmane

Snowmane, foal of Lightfoot, was the mount of King Théoden, on which he rode into the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. He was certainly weaker than Shadowfax, who was claimed by Gandalf; however, since his master was the King of Rohan he was most likely one of the Mearas himself.

Snowmane accompanied Théoden to the Battle of the Hornburg, and was riden on the final charge out of the fortress. At the battle of the Pelennor, however, Snowmane was pierced by a black dart, causing him to fall and crush Théoden beneath him. He was buried with honour on the field of battle; his grave, known as Snowmane's Howe, bore the inscription:

Faithful servant yet master's bane

Lightfoot's foal, swift Snowmane.

-- The Return of the King: "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 120

In French, he is known as fr:Nivacrin.

Stybba

Stybba is the pony given to Merry Brandybuck by Theoden. He is described as small, shaggy, and grey. Theoden's reason for leaving Merry in Edoras while he rides to Gondor to do battle is that Stybba cannot keep up with the horses of the Rohirrim, and none of the riders can carry Merry.

Windfola

Éowyn's Meara grey horse. Whilst disguised as Dernhelm, Éowyn (with Merry) rode to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on Windfola.

See also:

• List of fictional horses