Editing Horse

{{Era|Animals|Transportation}}{{WP-REAL}}
{{Pre-release}}
{{Update|''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''}}
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{{Imageneed|the [[Phobos]] page, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]], [[Wrath of the Druids]]'', and/or ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla downloadable content#Helix Store|Assassin's Creed: Valhalla Helix Store]]'' items ''[[Valkyrie Pack]], [[Knight ISU Pack]], [[Carolingian Dynasty Gear Pack]], [[High Elf Pack]], [[Draugr Pack]], [[Huldufolk Pack]], [[Modern Day Pack]], [[Jormungandr Pack]], [[Einherjar Pack]]'' and ''[[Hearthweru Pack]]''}}
{{Quote|Any worthwhile mercenary will know the value of a reliable, trained horse. Riding an animal that startles on the battlefield or loses speed quickly is a risk we will not take.|Mario Auditore, while inspecting the horses in his army, 1454.|Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy}}
[[File:AC horse logo.jpg|thumb|250px|Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad on a horse outside of Masyaf]]
'''Horses''' are a species of hoofed quadruped mammals, which have been used as a means of transport throughout most of recorded [[human]] [[Timeline|history]].

Their presence and use was widespread throughout the Middle Ages, the [[Renaissance]] era, and the [[American Revolutionary War|American Revolution]] for several purposes, resulting in a variety of breeds to match their use.

==Breeds==
{{Quote|The stable keeper gives me a short tour. He presents the different breeds - some bred stocky for labor, some wiry for travel, and of course, the unflinching steeds we will ride into combat.|Mario Auditore surveying the horses of Monteriggioni.|Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy}}
Three breeds of horse in particular were common to [[Italy]] in the early 16th century and differed in both appearance and characteristics.<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

[[File:ACB SP S 55 AerialAssassinationOnHorse 1280.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Ezio assassinating a guard mounted on a Rouncey]]
The common horse, or [[Rouncey]],<ref name="Brotherhood manual">''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' – User Manual</ref> which was often found heavily laden with saddle bags, could usually be found in the [[Antico District|Antico]] and [[Campagna District]]s, with the [[guard]]s riding them (possibly messengers) always pushing them into a quick gallop.<ref name="Brotherhood"/>

The [[Jennet]],<ref name="Brotherhood manual"/> was mostly found in the [[Centro District|Centro]] and [[Vaticano District]]s, and they were usually ridden by [[civilians]]. This horse was the fastest of the three breeds, despite being the weakest for combat.<ref name="Brotherhood"/>

The rarest type, the warhorse or [[Destrier]],<ref name="Brotherhood manual"/> could be found in any of Rome's districts still occupied by the [[House of Borgia|Borgia]], or at stables after all of them had been renovated. Despite being the slowest type of horse, this breed was often armored to be able to withstand more damage from enemy attacks without falling.<ref name="Brotherhood"/>

Other slightly uncommon breeds used at the time were the {{Wiki|Percheron}}, which [[Lucrezia Borgia]] used for her carriages, and two sub-varieties of warhorse.<ref name="Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

==History==
[[File:Horse-origins.jpg|thumb|250px|Bayek on his steed Meri Amun]]
The horses has evolved to be a grass-eating inhabitants of semi-arid regions worldwide, including the steppes of [[Europe|Eur]][[asia]] and the Great Plains of [[North America]]. By about 15,000 years ago, horse bones from this time period are found in Europe, Asia, and North America. Yet between 10,000 and 7,600 years ago, the horse became extinct in North America. The reasons for this extinction are not fully known. Humans began to domesticate horses around 4000 BCE, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BCE.

During the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]], the [[Greece|Greeks]] brought horse and [[chariot]] racing to the country which were commonly held in [[Lageion Hippodrome|hippodromes]], such as the one near [[Lageion]] in the [[Kanopos Nome]].<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref>

The horse and [[Wagon|carriage]] were equally common modes of transportation, and indispensable for the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]] from the [[Third Crusade]] until the Renaissance.<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref><ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

[[File:AC horseback charge.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Altaïr fighting on horseback against a [[Templars|Templar]] knight]]
During the Third Crusade, stables were located directly outside the Assassin-controlled village of [[Masyaf]], and horses residing there were often used by the Assassins to traverse the expanse of the [[Kingdom]], allowing them to reach other cities for missions or assassinations.<ref name="AC" />

A variety of horses could be found throughout the Kingdom as well, either in corrals or stables, or standing alone on the path with their rider nearby. During the height of the Crusades, horse-drawn carriages and warhorses were also common sights on the battlefield.<ref name="AC" />

As such, guards stationed along the paths of the Kingdom were always wary of horsemen, particularly if they were riding hard, or acted as if they were being pursued. With this in mind, most Assassins made it a point to ride slowly when in the presence of alert guards.<ref name="AC" />

[[File:Animal Husbandry.jpg|thumb|250px|The stables of Monteriggioni]]
By the Renaissance, though ridden horses still held their importance, horse-drawn carriages had grown significantly in popularity. [[Fast travel booths|Travel stations]] could also be found just outside of major cities, and offered citizens safe and easy carriage rides for a fee.<ref name="AC2" />

In the large city of Rome, horses were often used to travel between districts, and were ridden by citizens, guards, and Assassins alike, with the latter able to hijack horses from the former two.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Horses also remained essential for warfare. [[Mario Auditore]], as ruler and protector of [[Monteriggioni]], always held horses in high regard, noting that ''"some of them will die alongside us; others will actually be key to keeping us alive."''<ref name="Project Legacy" /> As such, each of the Monteriggioni [[Mercenary|mercenaries]] was made to get to know his horse before riding out into battle.<ref name="Project Legacy" />

Monteriggioni, like Masyaf before it, had stables conveniently located just outside the main gate. On one occasion, Mario's nephew Ezio had to chase down his uncle's favorite horse after it escaped from these stables and returned it to its keeper.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

European colonizers, unknowingly, reintroduced the horse in North America. During the 18th century, horses were used to drive wagons or carriages for transporting shipments and people. In revolutionary America, peddlers also equipped horse-driven wagons to sell goods in the [[Frontier]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref> By the mid-18th century, horse-driven carriages were used as a mobile transport system for people, especially for nobles.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''</ref>

==Horses==
===Peloponnesian War (5th century BCE)===
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="800px" style="text-align:center;"
! width="1%" |Image
! width="1%" |Name
! width="5%" |Description
! width="5%" |Availability
|-
|
!Abraxas
|
|Kill [[Exekias|Exekias the Legend]]
|-
|
!Acheilos
|
|Purchase [[Shark Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Aegean Atoll
|
|Obtain [[Aegean Pirate Pack]], purchase through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Black Unicorn
|
|Purchased through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Brown Horse
|
|Available from [[Blacksmiths]]
|-
|
!Cerberus's Offspring
|
|Purchase [[Underworld Mythical Pack]] through the Helix Store or the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Daedalus
|
|Purchase [[Ikaros Pack]]
|-
|
!Egyptian Horse
|
|Available from Blacksmiths
|-
|
!Entry Not Found (Equine Enforcer) 
|
|Purchase [[Abstergo Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Fangs
|
|Available from Blacksmiths
|-
|
!Ghost
|
|Purchase [[Celestial Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Great Rhetra 
|
|Purchase [[Lawgiver Pack]]
|-
|
!Hourglass
|
|Purchase [[Kronos Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Melaina
|
|Purchase through the Helix Store
|-
|
!Mycenaean Steed
|
|Ubisoft Club reward
|-
|
!Nemea
|
|Purchase [[Nemean Lion Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Orphnaeus
|
|Complete [[Dark Horse]]
|-
|
!Pale Horse
|
|Available from Blacksmiths
|-
|
!Pegasos 
|
|Purchase [[Pegasos Mythical Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Phobos
|
|
Choose one during [[So It Begins]].
The other two variants can be obtained during New game +.
|-
|
!Princess
|
|Purchase [[Athena Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Pyrois
|
|Purchase [[Helios Pack]]
|-
|
!Racing Horse
|
|Available from Blacksmiths
|-
|
!Riddle
|
|Purchase [[Sphinx Pack]] through the Helix Store or the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Sacred Bull
|
|Purchase [[Dionysos Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Sacred Deer
|
|Purchase [[Oracle Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Spartan Renegade
|
|Purchase [[Spartan Renegade Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Tartaros Charger 
|
|Purchase [[Herakles Pack]]
|-
|
!Traveler's Horse
|
|Available from Blacksmiths
|-
|
!Trojan Horse
|
|Purchase [[Odysseus Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|-
|
!Unicorn
|
|Available from Blacksmiths
|-
|
!Wild Boar
|
|Purchase [[Wild Boar Pack]] through the Helix Store or in the [[Oikos of the Olympians]]
|}

===Qin dynasty (3rd century BCE)===
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="800px" style="text-align:center;"
! width="1%" |Image
! width="1%" |Name
! width="1%" |Rarity
! width="5%" |Base Attributes
! width="5%" |Special Abilities
! width="5%" |Description
! width="5%" |Availability
|-
|
!White Horse
|Uncommon
|
*Base Movement Speed 60
*Dexterity 2
|
*Prancer – Mounts with this ability can jump from high ground.
*Swim – Mounts with this ability can swim in water, but you will automatically dismount if the water is too deep.
|"My white horses are black of mane; their six reins gleaming in the light."<br>
This black-maned, white horse has recently been tamed, so it's still a bit spirited.
|Default
|-
|
!Shadow Chaser
|Legendary
|
*Base Movement Speed 60
*Dexterity 2
|
*Prancer – Mounts with this ability can jump from high ground.
*Swim – Mounts with this ability can swim in water, but you will automatically dismount if the water is too deep.
|"The king's chariot was pulled by eight draconic horses. The one called Shadow Chaser gallops as fast as the sun."<br>
Shadow Chaser was one of the eight horses gifted to King Mu of Zhou by Kuafu. Once a dragon, it was engulfed in golden flames and could chase the sun. The King Mu of Zhou once rode it to Kunlun, where he met the Queen Mother of the West.
|
|}

===Ptolemaic Egypt (1st Century BCE)===
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="800px" style="text-align:center;"
! width="1%" |Image
! width="1%" |Name
! width="5%" |Description
! width="5%" |Availability
|-
|[[File:ACO_Absyssal_Steed.png|thumb|center]]
!Abyssal Steed
|A mysterious horse wreathed in flames, spewing smoke and ashes, its eyes ablaze with reddish light.
|Purchase the ''[[Nightmare Pack]]'' DLC.
|-
|[[File:ACO Aa Nekhtou.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Aa Nekhtou'''
|Named for her great strength, this horse is a veteran of many battles. Her unblemished coat is a testament to her martial skill.
|Available from stables for 5,000 [[drachma]]e.
|-
|[[File:ACO Annapolis.png|thumb|center]]
!Annapolis
|"Ah yes, the Greek mare. Good condition. Well bred. You have the air of a fine horseman. You would like her, yes?"
|Available from stables for 300 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO Black Arrow.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Black Arrow'''
|Steady, fast, and responsive to the lightest touch, this horse is an arrow in animal form.
|Complete the quest [[Wild Ride]].
|-
|[[File:ACO Blazing Glory.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Blazing Glory'''
|A fiery steed, her temper is well known throughout Egypt. No rider can remain astride her for long, but you seem capable. Care to try her paces?
|Available from stables for 1,500 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO The False Camel.png|thumb|center]]
!'''The False Camel'''
|A hardy and powerful mount, known for long journeys through the desert.
|Available from stables for 300 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO Egyptian Mare.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Egyptian Mare'''
|An unremarkable horse. Loyal, though.
|Available from stables for 300 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO Eternal Glory.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Eternal Glory'''
|Many legendary warriors have ridden this mare in battle. She is unmatched by other horses in experience and in age.
|Available from stables for 300 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:Eternal_Maw.jpg|thumb|center]]
!'''Eternal Maw'''
|Carrier of souls. Your hooves trample the wheat, pound the sands, thunder through the halls of the Dead. Jackal-born, none can tame you but He.
|Mount used in the afterlife realms in ''[[The Curse of the Pharaohs]]'' DLC. Available for purchase for use in Egypt from the stable in [[Set-Ma'at]] after visiting any of the afterlifes.
|-
|[[File:ACO Fangs.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Fangs'''
|Outfitted with [[snake]]skin saddle and tack, this tusk-toting horse stirs fear into the hearts of your enemies.
|Purchase the ''[[Desert Cobra Pack]]'' DLC.
|-
|[[File:ACO Hammer of Ptah.png|thumb|center]]
!Hammer of [[Ptah]]
|Able to withstand righteous fury.
|Complete [[The Killer Shadow]].
|-
|[[File:ACO Kaa.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Kaa'''
|Originating from the ancient kingdom of [[Nubia]], this stallion has a calm temperament, making him a solid ally in the face of danger.
|Available from stables for 1,500 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO_Kku.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Kku'''
|Found covered in soot among the ruins of a burnt village. Washing him caused no change in the color of his coat.
|Available from stables for 300 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO Lucius.png|thumb|center]]
!Lucius
|The seventh stallion foaled by a mare of magnificent pedigree. Rumor has it that [[Julius Caesar]] declined this gift horse after looking it in the mouth.
|Purchase the ''[[Roman Centurion Pack]]'' DLC.
|-
|[[File:ACO Menes.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Menes'''
|He who endures. Snatches you from the fire when things get dangerous.
|Available from stables for 300 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO Meri Amun.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Meri Amun'''
|His name translates to "Beloved of [[Amun]]." Some believe this stallion was gifted with exceptional endurance and stamina by the god himself.
|Available from stables for 5,000 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO Midnight Sun.png|thumb|center]]
!Midnight Sun
|The ineffable beauty of an animal such as this offers the feeling of a waking dream.
|Purchase the ''[[First Civilisation Pack]]'' DLC.
|-
|[[File:ACO_Morning_Mist.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Morning Mist'''
|This stallion comes from the mountains. They say that on the morning he was born, a white mist descended from nowhere to enshroud his stable. I don't believe a word of it.
|Complete the quest [[My Brother for a Horse]].
|-
|[[File:ACO Mut Herti.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Mut Herti'''
|Many claim this mare is blessed by the goddess [[Mut]]. Her riders have never fallen in battle.
|Obtained through the [[Tribal Pack]] DLC.
|-
|[[File:ACO Partner.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Partner'''
|Popular and always entertaining, Partner can teach other horses a thing or two. Sometimes gets moddy #PJSalt
|''[[Twitch Prime Pack]]'' DLC.
|-
|[[File:ACO_Pharaoh's_Horse.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Pharaoh's Horse'''
|Horse of kings and king among horses, this beast is considered one of the finest in all of Egypt.
|Win all four tournaments at the [[Lageion Hippodrome|hippodrome]].
|-
|[[File:ACO_Roman_Warhorse.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Roman Warhorse'''
|Tall {{Wiki|Andalusia}}n horse with great stamina.
|Complete all four elite tournaments at the Hippodrome.
|-
|[[File:ACO Rusty.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Rusty'''
|Found abandoned in a rickety cage on the bank of the [[Nile]]. He might have been imprisoned there for too long, as his legs are prone to cramping.
|Available from stables for 300 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO Soft Breeze.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Soft Breeze'''
|Mostly used for desert travel, she's a solid mount, albeit lacking in combat experience.
|Available from stables for 300 drachmae
|-
|[[File:ACO Stranger.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Stranger'''
|He wandered into town a few weeks back. No one knows where he came from.
|Available from stables for 300 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO Thunder.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Thunder'''
|When Thunder gallops, people scatter. Her hoofbeats evoke the din of an entire herd.
|Available from stables for 300 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO True Friend.png|thumb|center]]
!'''True Friend'''
|After his owner sickened and fell limp from the saddle, this stallion stood by for two days until a passing farmer stopped to help.
|Available from stables for 1,500 drachmae.
|-
|[[File:ACO_Unicorn.png|thumb|center]]
!'''Unicorn'''
|Unicorns are said to originate from faraway lands, though we've never been able to determine which. What we do know is that they are fabulous.
|Purchased through the Helix Store or the [[Nomad's Bazaar]].
|}

===Viking expansion (9th century)===
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="800px" style="text-align:center;"
! width="1%" |Image
! width="1%" |Name
! width="5%" |Description
! width="5%" |Availability
|-
|
!Abelard
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Alsvinder
|''Fleet of hoof and stong of wing, this divine steed only carries selected heroes to battle.''
|[[Reda's Shop]] or [[Valkyrie Pack]]
|-
|
!Arvakr
|''It is hard to say if the "animal" is actually alive or some form of animated statue sent by the gods...''
|Reda's Shop or [[Knight ISU Pack]]
|-
|
!Caballarii
|''Bred for battle, this mighty steed will not balk when faced with fire and steel.''
|Reda's Shop or [[Carolingian Dynasty Gear Pack]]
|-
|
!Celestial Unicorn
|''This magnificent creature is the symbol of purity and grace. No doubt that it was a gift from Freya, for those living in midgard.''
|Reda's Shop or [[High Elf Pack]]
|-
|
!Dart
|
|Stable merchant {{c|(Wrath of the Druids only)}}
|-
|
!Dubh Sainglend
|
|Stable merchant {{c|(Wrath of the Druids only)}}
|-
|
!Early Medieval Horse
|
|Complete "[[Into the West]]" in ''[[Discovery Tour: Viking Age]]''
|-
|
!Fiendish
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Fortitude
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Gluttony
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Gringolet
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Gypsy
|
|Stable merchant {{c|(Wrath of the Druids only)}}
|-
|
!Helhest
|''A gruesome-looking mount, rumored to bring pestilence and death in its wake.''
|Reda's Shop or [[Draugr Pack]]
|-
|
!Hrimfaxi
|''A symbol of night itself, this steed will never falter in darkness or lead its owner astray.''
|Reda's Shop or [[Huldufolk Pack]]
|-
|
!Lebryt
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Llamrei
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Mechadilfari
|
|Reda's Shop or [[Modern Day Pack]]
|-
|
!Parsifal
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Passelande
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Pharaoh's Horse
|
|[[Ubisoft Connect]]
|-
|
!Pomers
|
|Given in [[Fornburg]]
|-
|
!Pride
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Prudence
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Spot
|''Aptly named for its spotted coat. Some say it became this way after being bitten by several snakes at some point in the past.''
|Reda's Shop or [[Jormungandr Pack]]
|-
|
!Svadilfari
|''One said that this Stallion was bred by Freya herself. The veracity of this statement is questionable but the marks present on his flank prove his robustness.''
|Reda's Shop or [[Einherjar Pack]]
|-
|
!Tencendur
|
|Stable merchant
|-
|
!Tribal Stallion
|
|Ubisoft Connect
|-
|
!Unicorn
|
|Ubisoft Connect
|-
|
!Varangian Horse
|
|Ubisoft Connect. Only available to ''Collector's Edition'' players with an incorrect [[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla soundtrack|soundtrack]] sleeve.<ref>{{Twitter|AccessTheAnimus|status/1331976184352165889|AccessTheAnimus|quote=Ubisoft is apparently adding an exclusive reward for #AssassinsCreed Valhalla, the Varangian Horse, to all the accounts of players and fans who ordered the Collectors Edition of the game and found a wrong version of the tracklist for the official soundtrack! [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EnwhCjCW8AAMTJ2.png pic.twitter.com/04cgVzd577] [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EnwhFN-WMAALIqf.jpg pic.twitter.com/04cgVzd577] [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EnwhGM5XIAUuFih.jpg pic.twitter.com/04cgVzd577] [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EnwhJluW4AQczlO.jpg pic.twitter.com/04cgVzd577]|image=File:ACV - Varangian Horse mount skin details.png}}</ref>
|-
|
!Warhorse
|''No fancy name, no elaborate barding or embellishments. A simple horse, bred and trained for battle. That is all you need.''
|Reda's Shop or [[Hearthweru Pack]]
|-
|
!Wrath
|
|Stable merchant
|}

==Combat and movement==
[[File:AC horseback battle.jpg|thumb|250px|Altaïr striking an enemy from horseback]]
During the Third Crusade, horses were somewhat rare off of the battlefield, and Assassins were able to use the strength and speed granted by their mounts in order to gain an advantage over their enemies. [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], for instance, could wield his [[sword]] to combat opponents while on horseback, or flee from them if necessary.<ref name="AC" />

However, while an Assassin's horse could outrun any pursuer and leap over most obstacles, a single sword strike could trip it and send its rider into the ground.<ref name="AC" />

Though horses could easily plow through crowds, pulling the horse into a rear would normally startle nearby civilians, clearing a path in the process.<ref name="AC" />

[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] was also equally skilled at riding and combat, though he could use a horse directly before or after [[Freerunning|free-running]]. He was able to stand on the saddle at any time, and jump from horseback onto a wall or beam. Inversely, he could also jump directly onto horseback from a nearby building, or from a [[Parachutes|parachute]].<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Unlike Altaïr, Ezio (as well as any opponent he faced) was able to use a variety of his weapons while on horseback, both long and short-ranged; however, this excluded any heavy or two-handed weapon, the [[Hidden Blade]] and [[Short blade|daggers]].<ref name="Brotherhood" />

[[File:Horse combat 1.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Ezio jumping from his horse to air assassinate a Borgia soldier]]
Though Ezio could not remain on horseback while wielding his Hidden Blade, he could perform assassinations from horseback. To do this, he would leap from the saddle to assassinate either an enemy on the ground or a mounted horseman, wherein he would subsequently steal their mount in the case of the latter. Conversely, he could also drag the rider of a horse to the ground, before using his Hidden Blade to assassinate them where they lay.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Upon dismounting a horse, depending on whether or not the steed had been stolen, it would either follow its rider or flee immediately. Additionally, if their rider was in battle next to them, horses would often kick out at attacking guards, causing them to fall.<ref name="Brotherhood" /><ref name="AC" />

==Trivia==
*So far throughout the [[Assassin's Creed (series)|''Assassin's Creed'' series]], only three rideable horses have ever died. The first dies during the [[Siege of Monteriggioni|Fall of Monteriggioni]], when it is hit by a collapsing tower damaged by cannon fire, and the second during the [[Siege of Viana]], when it is struck by a cannonball. The third, used by [[Haytham Kenway]], is shot in the rear by [[George Washington]] during the [[Braddock Expedition]].
*Prior to ''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'', horses were invincible; at most, they would trip over and cause its rider to fall off. This is especially evident in the memory "[[Outgunned]]" of ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', where even when shot by the [[Machine Gun|machine gun]], enemy horses in pursuit will not die with their riders; instead they will fall over and get back up again. However, in ''Origins'', horses can die after sustaining too much damage.
**In the [[The Mentor's Keeper|first memory]] of Altaïr within ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'', a horse is seen on the ground, dead, with arrows sticking out of it.

;''Assassin's Creed''
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', horses taken from within the Kingdom have a tendency to abruptly change color when passing from one region to another.
*[[Richard I of England]], [[Robert de Sablé]], and Altaïr are the only characters in the game to be seen riding horses.
*King Richard's horse resembles the destrier, albeit with less or no armor plates in it, while Robert's was a destrier equipped with some armor plates and chainmail.
*Though ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' is the first to allow horses inside cities, early gameplay videos showed that riding horses inside of a city was originally intended to be possible in ''Assassin's Creed''.<ref name="AC1 Test Footage">{{Youtube|video=09rEmrMJhmU|text=First Assassin's Creed Demonstration at Microsoft's X06 (2006) HD
|channel=randoarchive|channelname=Rando Archive}}</ref> Part of this feature remained in ''Assassin's Creed'', as the only horses shown inside a city were during the cutscene of King Richard exiting on horseback with his caravan from the [[Acre Citadel]].

;''Assassin's Creed II''
*Horses are only used by guards in ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' during one mission, "[[Romagna Holiday]]", wherein they attack [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s carriage.

;''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''
*''Brotherhood'' is the first game where citizens are shown on horseback, though this leads to a minor anachronism: female citizens are depicted as straddling their horse rather than sitting side-saddle. This is historically inaccurate,{{Cite|30 March 2023}} as seeing a woman's legs spread apart would have been considered a most vulgar sight at the time.
*The stables at the Tiber Island Headquarters always feature a white horse and a destrier.
*For some reason, the amount of enemy guards riding destriers noticeably decrease if Ezio is riding that kind of horse.
*Apprentices called by Ezio sometimes find a nearby horse and ride off after having assassinated their targets.
*Galloping is disabled throughout Rome, and is only possible in [[Viana]], Monteriggioni, [[Alban Hills|Colli Albani]], and the [[Colosseum|Colosseo]]'s [[Lairs of Romulus|Lair of Romulus]].
**The PC version of the game has the gallop option reintroduced within the city, though to enable it, the game has to be installed on a solid-state drive.
*Jumping from a horse onto a beam 20 times is a requirement for the completion of the Roman [[Guild challenges (Brotherhood)#Thieves Guild|Thieves Guild challenges]].
*The [[assassin's Creed: Brotherhood achievements|achievement]] "'''Grand Theft Dressage'''" can be unlocked by stealing five horses in a row, without touching the ground.
*Destriers cannot be found in any color but white, despite their image in the in-game manual showing a black-haired coat.
*A minor glitch may occur if Ezio is using his sword while on horseback. If he is knocked off while attacking, once he gets back to his feet, he still holds his sword with his arm raised above his head. It remains this way, even when supposedly attacking or countering, until the weapon is sheathed.
;''Assassin's Creed: Revelations''
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'', the only times horses are encountered are during the carriage missions, the memories of Altaïr, and a cutscene in the memory "[[End of the Road]]". These horses are not rideable, however.

;''Assassin's Creed III''
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'', full synchronization of the memory "[[Battle of Bunker Hill (memory)|Battle of Bunker Hill]]" requires [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]] to air assassinate [[John Pitcairn]], who is on horseback at the time. 
*Jägers could mount horses like their elite Rennaisance counterparts, the Borgia Captains.

;''Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag ''and'' Assassin's Creed: Rogue''
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' are the only main games thus far where horses do not appear in any form.

;''Assassin's Creed: Unity''
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'', horses can be seen hitched to carriages in Versailles in the beginning of the game and later in front of the Café Théâtre. Just like ''Revelations'', they cannot be ridden.

;''Assassin's Creed: Syndicate''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' is the first game in which rideable horses can be killed, dying to three to six shots to the body, or one shot to the head.
*The [[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate achievements|achievement]] "'''WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU'''" can be earned by shooting five horses, causing the carriages they are pulling to flip over, potentially catapulting their drivers.
*When riding a police or fire carriage, the bell can be ringed by pressing down the R thumbstick, this will cause other carriages to make way for you.
;''Assassin's Creed: Origins''
*The Pharaoh's Horse and Roman Warhorse, earned by completing tournaments at the Hippodrome, are not one-time-only rewards but can be earned repeatedly and continuously resold for 1,000 drachmae.

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
Big Talker.jpg|Horses used in the [[Defense of Monteriggioni]]
AC2-Rome Horse Chase.jpg|Ezio fleeing soldiers on the [[Passetto di Borgo]] with a Jennet
ACB SP S 50 HorseTakeDown 1280.jpg|Ezio facing a horseman on a Destrier
Assassin s Creed Brotherhood 1 .jpg|A horseback battle between Ezio and a Borgia soldier
Mounted Assassins.jpg|Ezio and his [[Assassin apprentices|apprentices]] on horseback
1524387-996093 20100916 790screen004 super.jpg|Ezio attacking a horseman with a spear
ACV Hairless Horse.png|A hairless horse in 9th century [[Ravensthorpe]], [[England]]
</gallery>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''
**''[[Wrath of the Druids]]''
*''[[Discovery Tour: Viking Age]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Resurrection Plot]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Codename Jade]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{AC}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACB}}
{{AC3L}}
{{ACFC}}
{{ACTEH}}
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Transportation]]
[[Category:Mounts]]
[[Category:Livestock]]