Which years are Year of the Horse?

1930 (Metal Horse, from 30 January 1930); 1942 (Water Horse, from 15 February 1942); 1954 (Wood Horse, from 3 February 1954); 1966 (Fire Horse, from 21 January 1966); 1978 (Earth Horse, from 7 February 1978); 1990 (Metal Horse, from 27 January 1990); 2002 (Water Horse, from 12 February 2002); 2014 (Wood Horse, from 31 January 2014); 2026 (Fire Horse, from 17 February 2026); 2038 (Earth Horse, from 4 February 2038). The year starts at Chinese New Year, not on 1 January.

When is the next Year of the Horse?

2026, the Fire Horse, starting 17 February 2026.

Cathay Ink › Chinese zodiac › Year of the Horse

Year of the Horse

Energetic, independent and straightforward. The Horse loves open space and company in equal measure, and is happiest in motion.

The Horse is the seventh of the twelve animals, paired with the earthly branch 午 and the hours 11 am – 1 pm. The next Year of the Horse is 2026, a Fire Horse year, from 17 February 2026.

Check my birthday

Years of the Horse

Each year starts at Chinese New Year, so a January birthday usually belongs to the previous animal.

1930Metal Horse, from 30 January 1930
1942Water Horse, from 15 February 1942
1954Wood Horse, from 3 February 1954
1966Fire Horse, from 21 January 1966
1978Earth Horse, from 7 February 1978
1990Metal Horse, from 27 January 1990
2002Water Horse, from 12 February 2002
2014Wood Horse, from 31 January 2014
2026Fire Horse, from 17 February 2026
2038Earth Horse, from 4 February 2038

Born in one of these years? Enter the exact date to confirm the animal and see your lunar birthday.

The Horse in Chinese culture

Character

Energetic, independent and straightforward. The Horse loves open space and company in equal measure, and is happiest in motion.

Closest companions in the cycle: the Tiger and the Dog, the two animals that share the Horse's trine. Its secret friend is the Goat.

A story

马到成功, "success as soon as the horse arrives", is the wish written on Horse-year greetings.

Element changes the flavour of each Horse year. Metal 金: resolve and clarity: the edge of a blade, the ring of a bell. Wood 木: growth and flexibility: spring, bamboo, new shoots. Water 水: adaptability and depth: rivers finding their way. Fire 火: warmth and drive: summer, lanterns, the hearth. Earth 土: steadiness and care: harvest, soil, the centre.

Your Horse in ink

A poster with the Horse above, your name and lunar birthday below, and your Chinese name as a round seal.

Make the poster

Enter your birthday and we set the poster: the animal in ink wash, the year's element, the date in the lunar calendar, your name. Full-resolution download, printable at A3.

Start with my birthday

Want a Chinese name on the seal? Find one first: three real names with every character explained, free.

Previous animal: Snake 蛇. Next: Goat 羊.