The Icelandic Horse | A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the Icelandic horses, one of the oldest and purest horse breeds in the world. Known for their gentle nature, unique gait, and compact size, they offer a riding experience unlike any other. Find out what makes this breed so special and how you can ride one across Iceland's landscapes.

Most visitors get their first encounter with Icelandic horses on horseback riding tours in Iceland. Popular routes take you through lava fields near Reykjavik, the black sand beaches of Vik, and across open valleys in Hveragerdi. 

You can easily add a riding activity to most self-drive tour packages in Iceland or stay in accommodations near popular riding areas.

The Icelandic horse temperament is unlike that of most breeds you'll encounter elsewhere. Curious, calm, and surprisingly approachable, these horses have lived without natural predators for centuries, and it shows in how they interact with people.

Ready to plan your visit? Keep reading to learn about the breed's history, unique traits, and the best places to ride Icelandic horses across the country.

Key Facts About the Icelandic Horse

• Icelandic horses are purebred. They've been isolated from all other breeds since the Viking Age.

• They are small in size but are always called horses, never ponies.

• Horses in Iceland have five gaits, including two that no other breed possesses: the smooth tolt and the fast-paced skeid.

• Icelandic horses have a double-layered coat, compact build, and sure footing, making them well adapted to Iceland's harsh terrain and unpredictable weather.

• The Icelandic horse is a national symbol, appearing in Viking-Age sagas, Norse mythology, and Icelandic art and tradition.

• These horses are known for being calm, curious, and people-friendly, making them suitable for riders of all experience levels.

• Guided riding tours are available across Iceland, covering landscapes from volcanic lava fields to coastal beaches and highland valleys.

Interacting With Icelandic Horses

You'll often spot Icelandic horses as you pass different attractions along the Ring Road throughout the country. Even in harsh weather, they graze unbothered, shaped by Iceland's winters for a thousand years.

If you want to get truly close to them, the best option is to book a guided horse riding tour. If you encounter them roadside, follow these guidelines:

• Avoid petting the horses. They may bite or kick, and uninvited contact can undo costly training and create dangerous habits for future riders.

• Do not feed the horses. Extra food can harm their health and disrupt their training just as much as petting does.

• Do not enter private property to view Icelandic horses. The vast majority are kept on private land.

• Never ride a horse without the owner's express permission.

• Don't stop abruptly or park dangerously to get a closer look. Avoid stopping on icy roads, low-visibility spots, or private property.

If you want to photograph horses in Iceland, find a legal parking spot with good visibility. To get up close and personal with these animals, you either need the landowner's permission or a booked riding tour.

The History of the Icelandic Horse

The history of Iceland's horse is closely tied to the settlement of Iceland itself. Brought by Viking settlers over a thousand years ago, the breed has remained remarkably unchanged. It's shaped by isolation, harsh conditions, and a deep connection to the country's culture.

The breed's first members arrived aboard the Norse settlers' Viking ships sometime between A.D. 860 and 935. Sources don't fully agree on the exact ancestry, but many of the breed's defining characteristics trace back to those earliest animals.

Some accounts suggest the horses were chosen partly for their compact size, which made them practical cargo on open-sea voyages. A smaller, sturdier animal was simply easier to transport across the North Atlantic.

• See Also: Where Did Icelanders Come From?
• See Also: The History of Iceland

Since their arrival, selective breeding and natural adaptation have shaped the Icelandic horse into what it is today. It grows a thick winter coat each year and sheds it in spring. High winds and snowstorms don't affect it. It can wade through glacial rivers and cross terrain that would stop most other breeds.

In A.D. 982, the Icelandic parliament, Althingi, enacted laws prohibiting the importation of other horse breeds into the country. This guaranteed over a thousand years of isolation, making it one of the purest horse breeds in the world.

The average animal may live up to 40 years, with the oldest reportedly reaching 59. Individual horses may be exported, but once they leave Iceland, they can never legally return. This rule protects the breed from outside disease and keeps the bloodline intact.

Mythology and Folklore of the Icelandic Horse

National pride for Iceland's horses dates back to the time of settlement. The horse was never just a means of transport. It symbolized cultural identity, and when settlers first arrived, they brought with them stories and reverence that would shape Iceland's relationship with these animals for centuries.

Throughout history, Icelanders celebrated the horse as a dependable servant, a loyal companion, and a spiritual presence. According to Gragas, Iceland's first written law code, stealing a horse was among the gravest offenses, punishable by banishment.

In the Viking Age, outlaws could be killed on sight, which reflects just how deeply the animal was woven into Icelandic life and survival.

In Norse mythology, horses were cosmic forces. Odin's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, was said to traverse both the physical and spiritual realms. According to local folklore, Sleipnir's hoofprint formed the horseshoe-shaped canyon of Asbyrgi in North Iceland, a place still revered for its haunting beauty.

In Viking burial rituals, only kings and chieftains were buried with their horses, a sacred act that underscored the animal's spiritual importance. A trusted steed was considered the ideal guide for the journey to the afterlife.

This reverence continues today in naming traditions, riding culture, and storytelling, a quiet but enduring thread connecting modern Icelanders to their ancestors.

Where to See and Ride Icelandic Horses in Iceland

Icelandic horses are found across the entire country, not just in one region. Whether you are driving the Ring Road or exploring a specific area, you are likely to pass farms and fields where they graze freely.

Below are the main areas where you can encounter them, either on a tour or by spotting them from the road.

• Reykjavik. Several riding farms operate just outside of the capital city. It's the most accessible area for first-time riders. Tours here typically cover lava fields and coastal trails within a short drive from Reykjavik.

• The South Coast. Riding farms are spread along the South Coast between Reykjavik and Vik. Tours in this region often include black sand beach rides and views of glaciers and waterfalls. This is one of the most scenic areas in the country to ride.

• The Westfjords. The Westfjords have a strong horse culture. Farms here have been breeding Icelandic horses for generations, and the landscape makes for unforgettable riding, since it's remote and largely untouched.

• North Iceland. The wide valleys and open terrain around Akureyri and Lake Myvatn are popular for multi-day riding tours. The region hosts some of Iceland's most established horse farms.

• The Highlands. Horses are still used for practical work in the Highlands, particularly during the annual sheep roundup in autumn. Riding tours into the interior offer some of the most dramatic scenery in Iceland.

• East Iceland. The Eastfjords region is quieter and less visited, but horse farms dot the landscape throughout. It is a good option for travelers already exploring the eastern part of the Ring Road.

Riding lessons are popular among Icelandic children. Competitions in racing and showmanship have been held annually since the late 1800s. With tourism growth in recent decades, exploring Iceland on horseback remains one of the most authentic ways to experience the country.

Top Horse Riding Tours in Iceland

You can add a horse riding excursion to many self-driving tours, or find vacation packages where horseback riding is built into the itinerary. Here are three popular options:

• Top-Rated Horse Riding Tour near Reykjavik: A ride through the volcanic landscape just outside the capital, and one of the most accessible introductions to horse riding in Iceland.

• Horse Riding Tour on the Black Sand Beach from Vik: Ride along one of Iceland's most dramatic coastlines on the South Coast.

• Easy Horse Riding Tour through Lava Fields: A relaxed horseback riding tour through ancient lava fields near Reykjavik, well-suited to first-timers.

The Unique Traits and Gaits of the Icelandic Horse

The Icelandic horse stands out from nearly every other breed in the world. Its gaits, physical traits, and temperament are all shaped by over a thousand years of island life. Here is what makes it truly distinctive.

• Five gaits, two of them unique. Most breeds have three: walk, trot, and canter. The Icelandic horse also has the tolt, a smooth four-beat gait, and the skeid, a fast two-beat flying pace where all four hooves leave the ground at once.

• Over 40 official coat colors, with more than 100 recognized variations. Icelanders have long believed a horse's color reflects its personality, and naming traditions are built around this.

• Small in size, but never called Icelandic ponies. The breed's genetic makeup, intelligence, and strength place it firmly in horse territory, and the international equestrian community agrees.

• Calm and people-friendly by nature. Without natural predators in Iceland, these horses don't spook easily. They tend to approach strangers rather than avoid them.

• Known for forming strong bonds with their handlers. This is a big part of why riding an Icelandic horse feels different from riding most other breeds.

• Long-lived and built for tough conditions. Their double-layered coat, compact build, and sure footing give them endurance across Iceland's most demanding terrain.

Visit The Icelandic Horse 

Icelandic horses are more than a breed. They are a living piece of Iceland's history, culture, and character. Their five gaits, hardy resilience, and steady temperament make them beloved companions and one of Iceland's most enduring symbols.

Whether you spot them grazing beside the Ring Road, encounter them during South Coast tours, or saddle up for a ride outside Reykjavik, one encounter with Iceland's horse tends to stay with you.