Meet The 12 Cutest Horses In The World

Written by Heather Hall
Updated: July 4, 2023
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These are the absolute cutest 12 breeds of horses out there!

Horses have been around for a very long time. The earliest fossil record showed horses on earth 54 million years ago. Horses have been helping humans for over 5,000 years. Before the steam locomotive was invented, the fastest way to travel was by horse. Because traveling has been so important to the development of civilization, we couldn’t have done it without our hero, the horse. 

In addition to transporting us and helping us cultivate crops, horses helped us win battles, play sports, and offered centuries of companionship. They pulled carts and wagons, helped us hunt for food, and even provided valuable fertilizer. Although we don’t use horses as often in our modern society as we once did. They are still valuable to society in many ways. 

It’s hard to imagine a horse being anything but cute. Horses have cute hooves, cute coats, and super cute tails. And don’t even get us started on their extremely cute faces! It was nearly impossible to select only a few horses for the world’s cutest list, but we did our best to narrow it down. Let’s get started! 

1. The Falabella

Falabella miniature horse standing on a path.

The most common color coat for a Falabella is brown and black, but they can also be pinto, palomino, or red spotted.

©horsemen/Shutterstock.com

The Falabella has been bred in Argentina since 1868. This horse is one of the smallest, growing only 2.3 to 2.8 feet tall. They have sleek coats and narrow frames. They are bred to be compact with thick hair. The most common color coat for a Falabella is brown and black, but they can also be pinto, palomino, or red spotted. They are often used for shows, kept as pets, or ridden by children. 

2. The Bashkir Curly

A Bashkir Curly Horse in a field

Bashkir curly horses can have any coat color, but their curly coat makes them unique.

©iStock.com/DawnYL6161

Bashkir Curlies are also called American Bashkir Curlies or North American Curly Horses. While the origins of the Curly horse are not entirely clear, there is no question that they are cute. They are covered in wavy hair; even their ears, eyelashes, mane, and tail are curled. Bashkir Curlies are most commonly a chestnut color, but they can also be seen in black, grey, and several other colors. In addition to beautiful hair, they are known to be intelligent, friendly, and calm. They are easy to train and have excellent stamina.

3. The Akhal-Teke

Akhal-Teke running in dirt

The Akhal-Teke named Absent won a gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics.

©iStock.com/olgaIT

This cute horse has a distinctive coat with a shiny, almost metallic appearance. Akhal-Tekes are nicknamed the golden horse because of their brightly shining hair. They are medium-sized horses standing 4.7 to 5.2 feet high. They are found in many colors, including reddish-brown, black, chestnut, grey, cream, and yellow. No matter their color, these cute horses’ coats are super glossy. They also have long ears and almond-shaped eyes. They are known for being tough and able to withstand harsh conditions with good endurance. 

4. The Haflinger

beautiful Haflinger trotting in pasture

Haflinger’s ancestors were medieval ponies.

©iStock.com/BiancaGrueneberg

This beautiful animal certainly deserves a spot on the world’s cutest list. They are truly adorable, with a long blonde mane and tail contrasting against a red coat. They are not large horses and stand, on average, under five feet tall. Haflingers are well-muscled, energetic, and known for having a kind nature. 

5. The Knabstrupper

Knabstrupper trotting in field with other horses

The Knabstrupper were once popular horses used in jumping and riding competitions.

©iStock.com/huettenhoelscher

Who doesn’t love a cute polka-dot horse? The Knabstrupper is a danish horse breed that stands between 5.1 and 5.3 feet tall. They range in coat colors from solid chestnut to a full coat of leopard spots. They were once popular horses used in jumping and riding competitions. There are not many Knabstruppers left; the world population is estimated to be 2,000. 

6. The Gypsy Vanner

The Gypsy Vanner is known for its piebald or skewbald patterns that look like large splashes of paint.

©OryPhotography/Shutterstock.com

This horse has many names, including Irish Cob, Gypsy Cob, and Tinker Horse. It originated from Great Britain and Ireland and was used by travelers who needed a horse to pull their caravan. They are known for their piebald or skewbald patterns that look like large splashes of paint. Many Gypsy Vanners also have long feathered hair on their legs that is super adorable. They are medium-sized horses ranging from 4.3 to 5.3 feet tall. They are kind-hearted, strong, intelligent animals eager to please. 

7. The Shetland Pony

Smallest horses - Shetland Pony

Shetland ponies come in any color and always have a dense coat and a long thick mane.

©Zuzule/Shutterstock.com

This horse originates from Scotland and is known for its short legs and heavy coat. They are small but very strong horses, once used for riding, driving, and packing. They are known for being hardy and able to withstand harsh weather. Shetland ponies come in any color and always have a dense coat and a long thick mane. They are rarely taller than 3.5 feet. Cute!

8. The Arabian

Best Horses - Arabian

The Arabian is considered one of the most beautiful horses around.

©iStock.com/sfmorris

This cute horse originates from the Arabian Peninsula. It is an attractive horse with large eyes, a high-waving tail, and strong muscles. They are known for their endurance and stamina. They stand between 4.7 and 5 feet tall on average. Arabians are an old horse breed and have been around for many centuries. Arabian horses are known for having a good attitude and being especially patient with children. They can also be sensitive, intelligent, and fantastic at communicating. 

9. The Percheron

percheron running in open field

The French Percheron is a strong horse that can weigh up to 2,600 pounds.

©Nadezda Murmakova/Shutterstock.com

The world’s cutest horses list would not be complete without the Percheron. They are beautiful tall horses, between five and six feet tall. They are generally gray or black in color but can also be roan, bay, or chestnut. Some Percherons have white markings on their head and legs. These horses are known for being intelligent, alert, and hard-working. They originated in France but are popular all over the world today. 

10. The Friesian

Black Friesian horse runs and gallop in summer time.

Friesians are known for being graceful and having sure feet.

©Makarova Viktoria/Shutterstock.com

This horse looks like it stepped out of a fairytale, with its pure black shiny coat and long wavy mane. Friesians are so beautiful that royalty used them to pull their carriages. They originated from the Netherlands and were highly sought after by knights in armor. Friesians are known for being graceful and having sure feet. They are tall horses, standing between 4.8 and 5.6 feet tall. 

11. Clydesdale

Tallest Horses - Clydesdale

Clydesdales are extremely beautiful horses with arched necks, rippling muscles, and long hair on their lower legs and feet.

©OlesyaNickolaeva/Shutterstock.com

Clydesdales have been a very popular horse in modern culture, thanks to their many television appearances. They were first bred in the 18th century in Scotland. Clydesdales are large and powerfully built horses originally used in agriculture and heavy-load hauling. Used in modern times for driving, pulling, and logging, they are also extremely beautiful horses with arched necks, rippling muscles, and long hair on their lower legs and feet. They are proud horses used in shows and can often be seen pulling carriages in parades and state fairs.

12. Lipizzaner

Best Horses - Lipizzan

The Lipizzan is considered the best dancing horse.

©Best dog photo/Shutterstock.com

The Lipizzaner has been around since the 16th century and originated in Europe. Tall horses, running between 4.8 and 5.1 feet tall, with some nearing 5.4 feet tall, they are a lovely grey or white color and are often used to teach students in riding schools. They have large muscles, broad chests, and long flowing manes and are known for being athletic and performing well in shows.

12 INCREDIBLE HORSE FACTS

  1. Horses have been domesticated since 3500 BCE.
  2. The oldest fossil record of a horse is from 54 million years ago. 
  3. Horses can only breathe through their nose, not their mouth. 
  4. Horses can sleep standing up by locking their legs, so they don’t fall over. 
  5. Horses can move one ear independently of the other one. They have ten muscles in their ears (humans only have three).
  6. Horses have eyes on the sides of their head to see the area around them. Because of this eye position, they cannot see directly in front of their face right below their nose. 
  7. Horses feel safest and happiest living in a herd. 
  8. There are 600 different breeds of horses.
  9. Horses live a long time, 25 or 30 years. 
  10. There are an estimated 60 million horses on the planet today.
  11. Horse hooves are made of the same ingredient (keratin) as human hair and fingernails. Hooves grow continuously too, which means regular trimming of hooves is crucial to their comfort and hygiene.
  12. Horses belong to the family Equidae. Other members of this family include zebras and donkeys. 

Famous Horses In History

While the thoroughbred racehorse didn’t make our list, one of the most famous horses in history is the legendary thoroughbred, Secretariat, who won the Triple Crown in 1973. Secretariat set the record, and it still holds to this day, for the fastest time recorded in all three races.

Beautiful stallion Thoroughbred breed, great-grandson of Secretariat.

Beautiful stallion Thoroughbred breed, great-grandson of Secretariat.

©Anaite/Shutterstock.com

Another famous horse, renowned in film, was The Black Stallion. This beautiful equine was an Arabian stallion (coming in at number 8 on the list) named Cass-Ole. Like a true star, Cass-Ole also had stand-ins for his role, which were also played by Arabian stallions.

Here is a Summary of the 12 Cutest Horses in the World

NumberHorse
1Falabella
2Bashkir Curly
3Akhal-Teke
4Haflinger
5Knastrupper
6Gypsy Vanner
7Shetland Pony
8Arabian
9Percheron
10Friesian
11Clydesdale
12Lipizzaner

The photo featured at the top of this post is © critterbiz/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Heather Hall is a writer at A-Z Animals, where her primary focus is on plants and animals. Heather has been writing and editing since 2012 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. As a resident of the Pacific Northwest, Heather enjoys hiking, gardening, and trail running through the mountains with her dogs.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

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  5. the American Physiological Society, Available here: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/pdf/10.1152/jappl.1956.8.6.651