Horse
Horse is the generic name given to any of the quadrupedal equine animal species found domesticated throughout Golarion. They vary greatly in size and weight, all the way from the miniature pony to the great war destriers found in cavalry companies.1[citation needed]
Breeds
Hongali horse
Horses from the northern Tian Xia country of Hongal, simply called Hongali horses, are a light horse variety that may be trained for combat. These horses are famous even outside Hongal for their toughness.2
Chiardmar
These wild horses are found only in the hills of Nidal and bred in the Atteran Ranches. They are famous for their speed and grace, and are used by Nidalese couriers and traveling agents of the Umbral Court.34
Dort charger
The favorite sturdy warhorses of the crusaders of Lastwall.3
Fell pony
Fell ponies are bred in the county of Amaans in Ustalav. They have dark brown fur and are noted for their surefootedness.3
Lastwall jasper
These brown-and-white horses are prized for their impressive water-faring capabilities. They are named after the famed horse Jasper of the city of Vigil.3
Nidarrmar
These dark horses are strong and disciplined like the people of the Atteran Ranches in Nidal where they are bred.4
Taldor jennet
Despite their slimmer frame, Taldor jennets are good in battle and remarkably intelligent.3
Horse cultures
As useful creatures in farming, travel, trade, and warfare, numerous present-day cultures have created special places for horses in their societies. These include the Keleshite nomads of Casmaron's north-central steppes who raid far-eastern Taldor,567 the Shoanti of the Storval Plateau (especially those of the Sun Clan),8 and the horse ranchers of Lastwall.9
Historical horse cultures
Horses were also central to numerous historical cultures throughout Golarion's history. The earliest known example of human–horse partnership were the ancient horselords of Nidal, who roamed that part of Avistan during the Age of Legend.4
In religion
Being such an important part of many cultures throughout the world, it is unsurprising that the horse is considered sacred by a number of gods and their followers. Among these are Alazhra, the patron god of night hags (who travel on the horse-like nightmares), Kurgess, the Strong Man, the daemonic harbinger Geon, the dwarven god Grundinnar, the empyreal lords Marishi and Sinashakti, naturally the Apocalypse Riders, and the infernal duke Eligos, known as the Winged Rider.10 In Tian Xia, General Susumu is associated with horses and his religious symbol features a black, winged horse.11
As civil officeholders
In Taldor, the horses of nobles have on occasion been appointed to political or civil offices, including:
- Katalon, appointed to the Taldan senate by Grand Prince Beldam I12
- Comolaudio, exalted to the titles of baron and mayor of Oppara by Grand Prince Malixari II1213
References
For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.
- ↑ “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary, 177. Paizo Inc., 2009 .
- ↑ “Forest of Spirits” in Forest of Spirits, 15. Paizo Inc., 2011 .
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Knights of the Inner Sea, inside back cover. Paizo Inc., 2012 .
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 “Nidal” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 135. Paizo Inc., 2011 .
- ↑ “Keleshites” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 15. Paizo Inc., 2011 .
- ↑ “Taldor” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 183. Paizo Inc., 2011 .
- ↑ “Beyond the Inner Sea” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 204. Paizo Inc., 2011 .
- ↑ “Shoanti” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 18. Paizo Inc., 2011 .
- ↑ “Lastwall” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 99. Paizo Inc., 2011 .
- ↑ Inner Sea Gods, 316–327. Paizo Inc., 2014 .
- ↑ “Life in the Dragon Empires” in Dragon Empires Gazetteer, 59. Paizo Inc., 2011 .
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 “Spirits of Six Emperors” in The Six-Legend Soul, 69. Paizo Inc., 2018 .
- ↑ “Gazetteer” in Taldor, the First Empire, 31. Paizo Inc., 2017 .