Pokémon That Resemble Horses and Ponies

The creativity behind the Pokémon Universe is incredible. This is something that most of us grew up with, but at that time, we didn’t really notice all the Pokémon types and never really thought about the inspiration behind these creatures.

But if you love horses and you’ve been around Pokémon for a while, you’ve probably noticed something. Game Freak clearly has a soft spot for horse-shaped creatures. To be honest, this is quite explainable. After all, horses have been humans’ most loyal companion for thousands of years, and they’ve definitely left a mark on our civilization.

So, it shouldn’t surprise us that there are many horse-inspired creatures in the Pokémon universe. Some are majestic, some are fiery, and some are cute little cartoon ponies, but with a strong attitude.

This got us thinking: What are the best Pokémon that are inspired by horses and ponies?

Rapidash

If we talk about horse-inspired Pokémon, there’s no better example than Rapidash. I don’t know about you, but this was my favorite Pokémon when I was growing up. Maybe it’s because of my love for horses. 

Rapidash is fast, elegant, and has been around since Generation 1, so all the OGs remember it quite vividly. It’s a whole identity that revolves around speed, which makes it the closest thing Pokémon has to a thoroughbred racehorse.

It’s clear that the inspiration behind this Pokémon was horse racing; that’s why his mane and tail are fiery, and he is an incredibly fast Pokémon. If there was a Pokémon horse race, I’d place my horse bets on Rapidash. It’s a Pokémon that feels like the Secretariat from the real-world horse racing scene.

If you’ve ever imagined a derby where every horse explodes into flames at full sprint, Rapidash is basically that fantasy turned into a character.

We also have to mention Galarian Rapidash. This is also a Fairy-type Pokémon, but without it actually being on fire. This is a unicorn that’s cute and angry at the same time.

Ponyta

Ponyta is Rapidash’s pre-evolution, and one of the most well-designed “cute pony” Pokémon that has ever been created. It’s small, with flames all around, basically a foal but with huge potential.

If Rapidash is the racer, Ponyta is an energetic youngster that still has to figure out its speed.

Mudsdale

Mudsdale is one of the tankiest Pokémon in the universe, and it is made to look like a horse. This Pokémon will remind you of Suffolk Punch or the Shire, which are one of the biggest horse breeds in the world.

Huge horse full of muscle, with its legs looking like they’re wrapped in clay or mud. His posture screams, “I can pull a mountain if I want.”

Obviously, we are talking about a Ground-type Pokémon that was introduced in Generation 7.

I don’t see how this Pokémon can fit in a race due to its size and slow times, but when it comes to battling another Pokémon, it’s the first choice.

Mudbray

Mudbray is Mudsdale’s pre-evolution, and what’s surprising is that this Pokémon looks more like a Donkey than a horse. So, it seems that Mudbray transitions from donkey to horse when it evolves to Mudsdale.

This is a smaller, scrappier, and honestly, pretty adorable. It might not have the fighting skills you want, but it’s still a must-have if you want to collect all horse-inspired Pokémon.

Keldeo

This is another horse-inspired Pokémon, but with a magical appearance. Kaldeo is a Water/Fighting-type Colt Pokémon that’s around 1.4 meters tall, weighing close to 50 kilograms. So, it’s not exactly as heavy as a real horse.

But don’t let the size fool you. He is a strong Pokémon, and what makes him special is that Kaldeo is a good traveler and can run over water surfaces like oceans and rivers.

Kaldeo has a more anime-inspired look with bright colors, sharp lines, and an almost knight-like presence.

Spectrier

Spectrier is easily one of the most creative horse Pokémon ever added to the series. It’s a ghost-type with a dark, fragile, almost eerie design. It moves fast, hits quickly, and has a haunted, spectral look that makes it perfect for fans of darker designs.

Spectrier feels like a racehorse that belonged to someone in another lifetime. It’s fast, silent, and a little unsettling, but in the best way.

Glastrier

Pokémon has always been known for its balance. So, if we have a fiery-type horse like Rapidash, we must have an ice horse-looking creature, right? Glastrier is one of the best-looking Pokémon out there.

It’s an Ice-type wild Horse Pokémon; with an icy mask that’s 100 times harder than diamond and can emit cold from its hooves.

He is definitely a tanky Pokémon, and one that you’d rather use for battle rather than racing.

Final Words

The Pokémon universe is full of horse-inspired creatures. We have Pokémon like Dialga, Palkia, Arceus, Zebstrika, or the Shadow Rider Calyrex, but most of these are closer to robots or other animals like Zebras, rather than horses.

So, which of these horse-inspired Pokémon is your favorite?

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