Have you noticed how many car brands have a horse in their logos? It’s kind of a trend, especially with luxury and fast cars. But why exactly a horse? Well, when you are thinking about a symbol for a car, the horse appears naturally just because it doesn’t need much explaining.

Even people who don’t follow racing or cars understand what it suggests right away. The horse symbol is all about speed, strength, acceleration, and control. In other words, it is a sense of movement that feels alive rather than mechanical.

That’s exactly why horses show up in places tied to performance. Even long before engines existed, horses were how people measured power and reliability. That history never really disappeared; it just changed form.

But let’s look at the history of some of the iconic car brands that built their reputation with an image of a horse.

Why the Horse Still Makes Sense for Cars

Did you know that before cars, horses were the benchmark for performance? Not just how fast something can go, but how reliably it can move under pressure or long distances. We even measure the power of cars in horsepower, which basically came from steam engines in mines…but that’s a story for another time.

The point is that the horse model never really disappeared, even though we don’t use horses for transportation. Nowadays, horses are mainly used for leisure or entertainment…like the Kentucky Derby race.

But even the history of horse racing has impacted car branding, since the industry changed how we see horses. Since horse racing is all about speed and power, it kind of makes sense that most of the supercar brands have horse logos. Just take a look at the 2026 Kentucky Derby live odds, and you’ll understand what we’re talking about.

People love placing bets on such events, where horses have become the symbol of speed as well as prestige.

So, yes, using horses as a logo isn’t only about speed. It’s also about endurance, luxury, and prestige.

Let’s look at some of the most popular car brands that feature a horse logo.

Ferrari

Ferrari has one of the most iconic horse logos in the history of the automotive world. We are talking about the prancing horse. But if we look at the logo, we can see that it is aimed more at prestige and luxury than at actual speed.

Think about it. If they wanted the horse to represent speed (like their cars), they would have featured a running horse. But no, Ferrari introduced the prancing horse that is upright, balanced, and composed. It doesn’t look wild. It looks confident.

Ferrari’s entire brand is built on that idea. Yes, you get extreme performance, but never sloppy. The power is exceptional, but it’s not like you are riding a wild horse that you cannot control. Their logo represents a horse that’s confident in its abilities, like it’s about to win the Kentucky Derby.

That’s why Ferrari can change engines, introduce hybrid systems, and change technologies and still feel like a Ferrari.

Porsche

The other popular horse that comes from the car world is in the hands of Porsche. They went for a different design inspired by Stuttgart’s coat of arms and a horse that sits inside a crest. The horse itself looks like it is on two legs. This is another iconic horse car logo, but it’s not as obvious as the Ferrari logo. Porsche isn’t putting the entire focus on the horse.

So, what does it represent? Well, it represents lineage and training rather than spectacle. Porsche cars are known for being fast but also predictable. They are all about laser precision, built to perfection, and based on data and analysis. In other words, they are reliable, built with the highest standard, and they go really fast.

That’s exactly what a well-trained horse represents. It’s not always about strength, right? That’s why Porsche doesn’t care about big V12 engines. They focus more on performance and efficiency.

Ford Mustang

Then there’s the Mustang, which sits in a different category than the other two we covered so far. The Ford Mustang isn’t necessarily a supercar. Yes, it comes with a lot of power, but it’s not like the GT3 RS or the Ferrari F80.

Yet, we all know the running horse symbol of the car. This is one rare moment in the automotive world, where the Mustang logo (car model) became more popular than the brand name (Ford).

However, the logo here represents very different things. First of all, it’s a running mustang (probably wild), which means that the car is all about freedom and power. The Mustang brand was never about perfection. It was about access, about sound, and about the experience.

It doesn’t pretend to be anything else, which is why it works so well.

Hanteng Autos

Lastly, we have a Chinese car manufacturer, which may not be as popular as the other ones we covered, but its logo still includes a horse. They feature a jumping horse on a red background, which represents ambition more than heritage.

They produce regular everyday cars, so why include a horse like most supercar brands? Well, they are all about strength, progress, and competitiveness, which is exactly what the horse represents.

So, the horse has survived technological revolutions, the rise of engines, and the shift to symbolism. At this point, they are here to stay. They carry so much symbolism, and car manufacturers love that, which is exactly the reason why they became symbols of exquisite automotive brands.