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 [[horse]]s 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 Princes of Rohan alone. During the War of the Ring, however, [[Gandalf| Gandalf the Grey]] tamed [[Shadowfax]], lord of the Mearas at the end of the [[Third Age]].
==Individual horses==
===Arod===
Arod was the horse of [[Legolas]]. He was the grey/white horse given to Legolas by the Riders of [[Rohan]] in ''The Two Towers''.
===Asfaloth===
'''Asfaloth''' is the horse ridden by the [[Elves (Middle-earth)|elf]] who meets [[Aragorn|Strider]] and the [[Hobbit]]s shortly before they arrive at [[Rivendell]] ([[Glorfindel]] in the book, [[Arwen]] in [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[The Fellowship of the Ring (movie)|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').
{{right|- excerpt from ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''}}
===Bill the Pony===
'''Bill''' is bought by [[Frodo Baggins]] and his companions in [[Bree (Middle-earth)|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 [[hobbit]]s 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 (Middle-earth)|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 (book)|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', the [[Hobbit]]s' (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 receive 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 him and the horse ends up saving him later on in the plot.
===Nahar===
'''Nahar''' (from the [[Valarin]] '''Næchærra''') was the horse of the [[Valar|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 [[Men (Middle-earth)|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]], [[Peregrin Took|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 [[Valinor|West]] over the [[Belegaer|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 by [[Theoden]] to [[Merry Brandybuck]]. 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. The name is from [[Old English]] ''styb'' "stub, stump". Icelandic ''stubbur'' is a common name for sheep.
===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]]
[[Category:Middle-earth characters|Horses]]
[[Category:Fictional horses]]
[[fr:Bill le Poney]]
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