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10[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/RobotUnicornAttack https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/RobotUnicorn_2407.jpg]]]]
11[[caption-width-right:350:[[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible Unicorns count too]].]]
12
13->''"A horse, or something built around the same general plan, was coming down the street at a hard gallop. Its hooves did not make the pocking noise of iron horseshoes. Bud realized it was a chevaline -- a four-legged robot thingy."''
14-->-- ''Literature/TheDiamondAge''
15
16A HorseOfADifferentColor indeed -- and an entirely different nature. Combining the [[CoolHorse coolness of a horse]] with the tireless reliability of a machine, the Mechanical Horse is, at its most basic level, a motorbike with legs. (If it ''doesn't'' have legs, see MyHorseIsAMotorbike.) The Mechanical Horse will usually be a [[RobotBuddy robot]], but some {{Steampunk}} universes feature ''clockwork'' horses. This is a mechanised version of the DiligentDraftAnimal when the horse is used for carrying loads.
17
18The idea is not quite as ludicrous as it sounds. Biological horses can walk on vastly more kinds of terrain than a wheeled vehicle (not to mention they are perfectly amphibious), and it would be quite useful if there were a machine that could do the same thing. But engineers find it very challenging to overcome all of the problems with moving around on legs, on any uneven surface, without falling down. As an odd example, the US military once funded experimentation into a "walking truck", a horse-like machine designed as an all-terrain mount and transport. ''[[http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/~hpm/project.archive/Image.Archive/other.robots/Mosher.GE.walking.truck.jpg (It looks really weird.)]]''
19
20Not to be confused with [[AutomatonHorses horses treated like machines]], the identically-named [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scammell_Mechanical_Horse vintage vehicle,]] or a type of [[TheKiddieRide kiddie ride]]. A really big mechanical horse with some of the animal traits taken away and some weapons added is basically a SpiderTank.
21
22SubTrope to MechanicalAnimals.
23----
24!!Examples:
25
26[[foldercontrol]]
27
28[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
29* ''Anime/BtX'': X and Shadow, although {{Kirin}}, are essentially {{Cool|Horse}} Mechanical Horses -- ones that let you [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace breath in space]].
30* The Count in ''Anime/{{Gankutsuou}}'' has [[RuleOfCool a hovering carriage drawn by mechanical horses]].
31* ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'':
32** ''Franchise/SDGundam'' frequently features mechanical horses due to its heavy use of samurai and knight settings. Some characters (such as Musha Zeta and Knight Gundam), even have centaur forms where they can combine with their steed. Perhaps topping them all, Ryofu Tallgeese in the current (as of early 2009) series SD Gundam Toys/BBSenshiSangokuden has a powerful robotic horse that can also transform into a motorbike.
33** ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' gives us Fuunsaiki, a [[HumongousMecha Mecha]] horse piloted by an ''actual'' horse.
34** ''Anime/SDGundamForce'' gives us two -- well, three examples, all originating from the country of Ark, which has influences from ''G Gundam'' and the Musha Gundam series';
35*** The first is Entengo, Bakunetsumaru's steed, widely believed to be an {{Expy}} of Fuunsaiki.
36*** Next are the horses pulling Kibaomaru's chariot Oshogo. According to the [[ShowWithinTheShow Zako Zako Hour]], their names are Kakuryu and Hiryu. Given that Kibaomaru is an {{Expy}} of the Zeus Gundam, it's more than likely that Oshogo is a reference to the Hercules Chariot used by that Gundam.
37* ''Anime/MazingerZ'': [[TheDragon Baron Ashura]] sometimes rides a large, pink, mechanical horse (seen for first time in episode 17). His Iron Mask [[{{Mooks}} troops]] also use mechanical horses in some scenes. In ''Anime/ShinMazinger'', the Iron Masks also ride robotic horses.
38* ''Anime/SaberRiderAndTheStarSheriffs'': Saber Rider's Steed and April's Nova.
39[[/folder]]
40
41[[folder:Asian Animation]]
42* The ''Animation/MotuPatlu'' episode "Robot Horse", as suggested by its title, has Motu and Patlu borrowing a robotic horse from Dr. Jhatka to replace the real horse they used to replace their bikes. The robotic horse, unlike the real horse, doesn't annoy people by eating their vegetables and crops... actually, it annoys people by eating jewelry, and the villain John the Don uses this to his advantage by hijacking the robot horse.
43[[/folder]]
44
45[[folder:Audio Plays]]
46* In the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' play ''[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWho034SpareParts Spare Parts]]'', it's revealed that [[CyberneticsEatYourSoul the Cybermen]] had first cyberconverted horses. The result is a HellishHorse, as by Cyberman norm, it's a corpse laden with cybernetics.
47[[/folder]]
48
49[[folder:Card Games]]
50* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has the [[http://magiccards.info/ch/en/76.html Bronze Horse]], [[http://magiccards.info/5e/en/357.html Clockwork Steed]], [[http://magiccards.info/ex/en/142.html Workhorse]], and [[http://magiccards.info/som/en/142.html Chrome Steed]]. [[http://magiccards.info/mbs/en/8.html Hero of Bladehold]] and [[http://magiccards.info/mbs/en/66.html Hero of Oxid Ridge]] can be seen riding Chrome Steeds as well.
51[[/folder]]
52
53[[folder:Comic Books]]
54* ''ComicBook/TheBeano'': "The Horse that Jack Built" was a comic strip back in TheForties about a boy and the robot horse he had built. Made more amazing by the fact that the story was set in [[MedievalEuropeanFantasy the middle ages]].
55* ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'': In a ''Paperinik'' story ('''not''' from ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures''), Gyro Gearloose creates one for the eponymous hero after Scrooge [=McDuck=] confiscates Donald's car.
56* ''ComicBook/IronMan'': One of Obadiah Stane's [[ChessMotifs Chessmen]], the Knight, has a mechanical flying horse.
57* In ''ComicBook/SupergirlsThreeSuperGirlfriends'', after inducting ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} and Brainiac 5 into the team, the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes holds a celebratory parade wherein the three founding members ride grey robot-horses.
58[[/folder]]
59
60[[folder:Fan Works]]
61* ''Fanfic/BetterLivingThroughScienceAndPonies'': Everyone in the Aperture Science Enrichment Center that was teleported to Equestria was physically changed to have an equine-like form, including robots like [=GLaDOS=], ATLAS, and P-body.
62* ''Fanfic/TheIronHorseEverythingsBetterWithRobots'' centers around a robot pony named Turing Test.
63* The mine-robbers that the four encounter in ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World'' ride six clockwork robotic horses that combine into a HumongousMecha that kicks Paul about 300 feet away.
64* ''Fanfic/TheMythOfLinkAndZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' adapts [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild the namesake game]], including the various [=DLCs=], such as "The Champions' Ballad". At the end of it, Link fights Monk Maz Koshia and earns the Master Cycle Zero, which just as in canon, is unicorn-shaped. [[spoiler:Except this time, there's also Divine Beast Vah Eponia, named for Link's loyal horse throughout the ages, and the Divine Beast of nature which is also shaped like a massive horse. Monk Maz Koshia serves as its pilot in place of Link by whom the beast is meant to be piloted.]]
65[[/folder]]
66
67[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
68* ''Anime/TheAnimatrix'' has a few robots riding robotic "horses" into combat in ''The Second Renaissance: Part II''. One scene has a Machine ride a mechanical "horse" while blowing a trumpet before finally falling. As with the later Machines (such as sentinels), the "horse" only resembles a horse [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/matrix/images/2/29/A-anim.181.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130128062320 in general form and design]].
69* ''Anime/DoraemonNobitasDorabianNights'': The gang meet Sinbad (a RetiredBadass in this incarnation), who owns various artifacts from the Arabian Nights stories, including the Ebony Horse from the Arabian Nights tale of the same name which turns out to be a mechanical flying animal. The final battle notably has Sinbad riding the horse and battling the main villain, Abdil, on the rooftops as Sinbad's castle takes flight.
70* In ''Animation/HugoTheHippo'', the sultan's magician conjures up a metal horse and cowboy to lasso some hippos after the horse, obviously, drains the body of water they live in with a vacuum snout.
71* The ''WesternAnimation/RainbowBrite'' movie ''Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer'' (the one with "[[MeaningfulName Spectra]]", the diamond-planet) features a talking, flying Cyber Horse called On-X (pronounced "Onyx"), for Brite's SpearCounterpart Krys (pronounced "Chris").
72* ''WesternAnimation/RankinBassJackFrost'' has the villain, Kubla Krauss, riding a {{Steampunk}} mechanical horse called "Clangstomper".
73[[/folder]]
74
75[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
76* General Grievous' Tsmeu-6 Bike from ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' is able to function both as a [[MonowheelMayhem monowheel]] and a four-legged running beast.
77* According to ''Film/SantaClaus1959'', our hero's sleigh is pulled by hideous giggling clockwork reindeer.
78* A clockwork horse features prominently in ''Film/TheThiefOfBagdad1940'', based on the ''Literature/ArabianNights'' example. [[EvilChancellor Jaffar]] offers it to [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter the Sultan of Basra]], a toy collector, in exchange for his daughter. (''See also'' {{Literature}}, ''below.'')
79* The horses in the ''Film/{{Westworld}}'' film are very life-like, but are actually robots, much like their humanoid counterparts. During one particular scene set at the robot repair lab, we can see a few inanimate horses lying on large operating tables, waiting for repairs along with the human robots and other animal robots.
80[[/folder]]
81
82[[folder:Gamebooks]]
83* The ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' book ''Literature/PortalOfEvil'' features a flying metal horse which is owned by the Wizard of the Lake. He gives you (the PC) a ride on it.
84[[/folder]]
85
86[[folder:Literature]]
87* OlderThanPrint: One of the ''Literature/ArabianNights'' stories features a clockwork horse. (''See also'' {{Film}}, ''above.'')
88* ''Literature/AscendanceOfABookworm'': Members of the SupernaturalElite can make highbeasts, which are essentially magic-powered moving statues that look like [[{{Pegasus}} winged horses]]. Some people give them the form of the winged version of another ridable animal, making HorseOfADifferentColor quite common.
89* ''Literature/TheCanterburyTales'': Obviously drawing on the ''Literature/ArabianNights'' tale, in the "The Squire's Tale", Chaucer tells of a very similar steed being gifted to UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan alongside other wondrous items.
90* Bronze, the Steel General's steed in ''Literature/CreaturesOfLightAndDarkness'', is a magically enhanced mechanical horse that can ride through space. With each step it takes, it travels twice as far as the previous. It is said that with a sufficient run-up, it could circumnavigate the universe in a single stride.
91* ''Literature/CrestOfTheStars'': There is a robotic horse children guide (along with other robotic animals) in a theme park. The protagonists enlist its help in escaping, resulting in a ChaseScene.
92* ''Literature/TheDarkSideOfTheSun'' features robot horses on a world of nothing but MechanicalLifeforms. The horses are sapient, and have a philosophical outlook on life.
93* In ''Literature/DaveBarrySleptHere'', the "Iron Horse" that was used to pull heavy loads before being replaced by the locomotive is implied to be one of these, since it had the drawback of producing "Monster Piles of Iron Droppings".
94* ''Literature/TheDiamondAge'' has mechanical horses; one of the main characters is given one with directions preprogrammed into it as a way of taking him to a secret location. Interesting in that they're specifically mentioned as being capable of using different gaits: galloping like a horse on smooth, level terrain, but more like a big cat when walking on steep, uneven terrain.
95* In ''Literature/InfiniteDendrogram'', there are a series of mechanical steeds known as Prism Steeds, created by an ancient civilization. While there are replicas in the modern age, the original series are both rare and valuable enough that a player could be murdered over it.
96* In ''Literature/MakingMoney'', the horses are {{golem}}s -- clay automatons -- and the only one to ride them notes just how uncomfortable a terra cotta saddle is. That one character reasons that, since (some) golems ''can'' talk (it partially has to do with how they're "built"), then... why can't a golem horse? So he asks one what it wants, and gets an answer: permission to actually '''act''' like a horse, including time to just run around, and occasionally roll around in fields.
97-->''"...'Give me Livery, or Give Me Death'."''
98* ''Literature/TheNeverEndingStory'': Xayide created hollow metal horses that she could control with her mind. Bastian, due to Auryn, could also control these horses and rode one away from a battle until it shattered from overuse.
99* The Hephaestus cabin from ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' make some mechanical horses for a chariot race.
100* [[Literature/BasLagCycle Bas-Lag]], the world of ''Literature/PerdidoStreetStation'', includes Remade (cyborg) horses as well as criminals.
101* "The Quest for Saint Aquin", a 1951 short story by Creator/AnthonyBoucher, has the priest protagonist using an artificially intelligent "robass" ("robot [[StubbornMule ass]]") which happened to be an atheist. The story takes place in a post-nuclear war United States where roads are in poor repair, hence the need for an automated horse rather than AutomatedAutomobiles (though the robass does have wheels it can deploy if the surface allows).
102* Halidarre the mechanical pegasus in the ''Anime/{{Robotech}}: The Sentinels'' novels.
103* The steam elephant from ''Literature/TheSteamHouse'' is an early example.
104* ''Literature/{{Strata}}'' features a mechanical horse ''that can fly.'' The book says it runs on magic.
105* ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'': Among ''Gun-Gale Online''[='=]s in-game vehicles are robotic horses. In an amusing {{inver|tedTrope}}sion of AutomatonHorses, they are fully robotic, but notorious for being more temperamental than actual horses, to the point where players who can ride in real life can't get them to listen.
106* In the ''Literature/TalesOfTheMagicLand'' book ''The Fiery God of the Marrans'', there are two mechanical mules built by Alfred Canning for Annie Smith and her friend Tim O'Kelly. The children name them Caesar and Hannibal and ride them to the Magical Land, where the mechanical mounts become alive and, like the dog Totoshka, are able to talk.
107* ''Literature/VampireHunterD'' has a {{Cool|Horse}} ''Cyborg'' Horse, as the stories are set in 12,000 A.D. However, the novels state that his cyborg horses (he goes through several) are just standard model with nothing special about them in the context of the setting, but he somehow manages to make them incredibly fast and agile just by sitting on their back.
108* In the ''Literature/WarlockOfGramarye'' series, this overlaps with SapientSteed, as the main character's horse, Fess, is a highly intelligent AI placed in a mechanical horse.
109* ''Literature/WolvesOfTheCalla'': The "wolves" that kidnap children from the town of Calla Bryn Sturgis every generation appear as wolf-masked riders, but are actually robots mounted on mechanical horses.
110[[/folder]]
111
112[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
113* In ''Series/{{Garo}}'', after a Makai Knight seals 100 Horrors, they can take a test to see if they're worthy to ride one. These horses are made of metal and has the power to enhance the rider's weapons. GARO, ZERO and DAN's horses are named Gouten,[[note]]''Thunderous Sky''[[/note]] Ginga[[note]]''Silver Fang''[[/note]] and Hayate[[note]]''Swift Wind''[[/note]] respectively. It's still unknown how KIBA obtains his horse Raigou, though.
114* Parodied in ''Series/HomeMovieThePrincessBride'' for Creator/DavidOyelowo's turn as Humperdinck, which has him for the scene where he rides up on horseback to send Westley to the Pit of Despair. Except instead of a horse, Oyelowo rides up in a golf cart, and exits stage left by putting the golf cart in reverse and backing out of frame.
115* In ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger'' and its counterpart ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'', TheDragon has a HellishHorse from the underworld that can grow giant, and turn into a horse mecha. He can [[CombiningMecha combine]] with it to form a mecha-centaur, and then ''further'' combine with it to form a horse-based [[HumongousMecha Megazord.]] TheHero can form this Megazord as well, and they later one-upped themselves by giving him his own mecha ''unicorn.'' A later villain has a chariot pulled by two similar mecha-horses.
116* In ''Series/{{Westworld}}'', the artificial horses are built in much of the same manner as [[ArtificialHuman their human counterparts]] and consist largely of tissues similar to organic ones, operated by a control unit in their skull. Like all animals in the Delos parks, they are of a lower intelligence than the humanoid hosts. They exhibit typical horse-like behaviour, but don't seem vulnerable to the simulated ammunition ("simunition") used by park guests and the parks' host characters.
117[[/folder]]
118
119[[folder:Music & Music Videos]]
120* The Music/DaftPunk clip for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4cgLL8JaVI "Derezzed"]] has the ''Film/TronLegacy'' lightcycles turning into mechanical horses for some virtual jousting.
121* A Canadian indie rock band called Music/RockPlazaCentral has an entire concept album titled ''Are We Not Horses?'' -- all about robot horses who achieve sentience.
122* During one tour, Music/TakeThatBand had a [[http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/3671943867_2c950189d4_o.jpg giant mechanical elephant.]]
123[[/folder]]
124
125[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
126* In ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'', Clan Hell's Horses rather unsurprisingly created an [[HumongousMecha Omnimech]], the Balius, and a [[PoweredArmor Battle Armor]] suit, the Buraq, that are both stylized to look like horses.
127* ''TabletopGame/{{Deadlands}}'' features mechanical pack mules available through a company specializing in [[MadScientist weird-science products]].
128* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
129** Lord Robilar in the ''TabletopGame/{{Greyhawk}}'' setting (one of the original characters in the setting, created while Creator/GaryGygax was playtesting the game) rode a mechanical destrier (a magically animated horse automaton).
130** [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsThirdEdition 3rd Edition]] includes "stone horses," {{Living Statue}}s that serve whoever speaks their command word. They have the game stats of heavy horses and the DamageReduction of stone.
131** Equine {{golem}}s are crafted from hardwood and can gallop non-stop without tiring, though anyone who tries to ride one for more than eight hours a day is going to be fatigued since their mount doesn't flex beneath them like a living horse.
132** {{Clockwork|Creature}} steeds were introduced in a late 3rd Edition ''Monster Manual'', and boast a suspension system that makes them more comfortable to ride than equine golems, have a variety of optional upgrades such as combat features and additional armor, and are so easy to handle that even a novice rider can control them. The downside is that if their rider ever becomes incapacitated, the clockwork steed will immediately come to a halt, and they'll obey the commands of ''any'' rider, such as a thief who shoved their unconscious owner out of the saddle.
133** The ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'' campaign setting features automaton horses.
134* In ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'', some characters can create horse-like constructs of bonded magical energy, or own magitek constructs as steeds.
135* ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'' features both Robot and Bionic horses (Yes, as in real horses turned into Cyborgs). They've proven to be extremely popular for the companies that make them (RuleOfCool is a very real market force among post-post-apocalyptic adventurers and mercenaries), to the point that some are making fantastical variations like Unicorn(with a silver-plated vibro-blade horn), Pegasus(functional wings, but held aloft by hover thrusters), Sea Horse, and Monster.
136* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' features [[http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat440090a&prodId=prod1530056a the mechanical steed]]. This is sufficiently ridiculous for even the distinctively over-the-top Warhammer world that many Empire players consider it FanonDiscontinuity. Empire army book author [[http://www.warvault.net/interview.php Graham McNeill]] considers it the Empire's attempt to invent the car. Oh, and it ''shoots lightning from its eyes''.
137* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
138** In addition to fully robotic mounts, there are heavily augmented bionic horses, cyber-wolves and cyber-''boars''.
139** Mogul Kamir of the [[MeaningfulName Attilan]] Rough Riders was gifted such a horse by the Adeptus Mechanicus. He was known for previously riding a lot of horses to death.
140** Speaking of the Mechanicus, in 2020 they received a fully playable example of this trope in the form of the Serberys Cavalry, available in two flavours: the [[SwordAndGun Serberys Raiders]] and their [[ArmedLegs clawed]] robot horses, and the [[GunsAkimbo Serberys Sulphurhounds]], who are more partial to [[BreathWeapon fire-breathing]] robot ''[[RobotDog greyhounds]]''.
141[[/folder]]
142
143[[folder:Toys]]
144* ''Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse'' has a robotic horse called ''Stridor.'' Fisto is seen riding it in [[https://static1.comicvine.com/uploads/original/4/49448/2661828-stridorart.jpg this promotional poster.]] Not to be outdone, the Evil Warriors got [[EvilKnockoff Night Stalker]], who was usually seem being ridden by [[EvilCounterpart Jitsu]].
145[[/folder]]
146
147[[folder:Video Games]]
148* ''VideoGame/AlienSoldier'' has Wolfgunblood Garopa as boss of Stage 23, who is a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot mechanical cowboy wolf]] with a machine-gun pistol riding one of these.
149* ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite'' features mechanical horses. According to the ''VideoGame/BioShock'' [[AllThereInTheManual website]], the mechanical horses called Automated Stallions were meant to replace horses on Columbia that were more likely fall off the floating city when startled by weather conditions and enemy attacks.
150* ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' has an ad for [[http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Giddyup_Buttercup "Giddyup Buttercup"]] ("The Ultimate in Equestrian Robotics!") which appears in multiple locations. In the ''Mothership Zeta'' add-on, you find a room full of them in the alien mothership -- [[BewareTheNiceOnes along with a number of dead aliens that have apparently been kicked to death]].
151* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', [[SummonMagic Odin]]'s 'Gestalt Mode' is a mecha warhorse that inexplicably wafts rose petals in its wake.
152* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', anyone who promotes into the [[http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Mechanist Mechanist]] class rides a puppet mount that looks like a Chinese lion.
153* ''VideoGame/HorizonZeroDawn'': Since all the machines are built to look like animals, there's naturally a machine horse, called a Strider. Aloy can tame them and use them as mounts once she figures out how to hack machines.
154* In ''VideoGame/Onimusha2SamuraisDestiny'', Jubei finds a strange metal sphere with an indentation bearing the word "Faith". When Jubei uses the Faith Orb given to him by Oyu on the sphere it unpacks into a mechanical horse.
155* The Defiant faction in ''VideoGame/{{Rift}}'' can get "eldritch steeds", which play the trope straight with {{Magitek}}.
156* ''VideoGame/RobotUnicornAttack'' has... well, robot unicorns, providing the current page image.
157* The Aussenseiter in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' is piloted by a person, but [[TransformingMecha transforms]] into a horse. All together now: "Real Men Ride Each Other".
158* One of the challenges in ''VideoGame/{{Syberia}} II'' is how to repair a group of horse automata (no, not AutomatonHorses!) that "dance" on stage in a tavern. They can't be ridden anywhere, but they're kinda fun to watch.
159* ''VideoGame/ThemsFightinHerds'' has a mechanical horse that sometimes appears in the background of the Salt Mines stage. This character is a backer reward who was based on the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfiction character [[Fanfic/TheIronHorseEverythingsBetterWithRobots Turing Test]].
160* The Mechanostriders (mechanical ''ostriches'') from ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''.
161[[/folder]]
162
163[[folder:Webcomics]]
164* ''Webcomic/{{Crankrats}}'', befitting its {{Steampunk}} acumen, has these, and they're programmable. Just enter your destination and there you go.
165* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'':
166** One of the accomplishments of the Spark known as the Iron Sheik is that [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030905 he built a Mechanical Camel]].
167** Bill and Barry Heterodyne rode to Mechanicsburg on horse clanks faster than possible when they heard about the attack.
168** One of the Foglios' interludes involves a Spark opera featuring a [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext mechanical roller-skating giraffe]]. There's no mention of it being ridden, which is probably for the better.
169* In ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'', carriages are drawn by the Model-H's: intricate robotic horses that spout [[Literature/ParadiseLost Milton]] as they slouch apocalyptically toward their destination.
170* At one point in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Rufioh was seriously injured. In order to save him, his boyfriend Horuss built him a mechanical body -- and because [[MeaningfulName Horuss]] has a creepy horse obsession, he made the body in the shape of a mechanical horse so Rufioh would better fit Horuss' ideal vision.
171* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'', Galatea spends much of "The Island and the Idol" ark trying to get a powerful being to give her a flying pony. He never does... but at the end of the story arc, she actually does get a ''mechanical'' pegasus, and seems reasonably happy with it.
172* Gertrude, Brunhilda and Nikki of ''Webcomic/TheKamics'' received mechanical pegasi as a gift from the webcomic ''Webcomic/MagicalMisfits''. Nikki's pegasus was shown to convert into a convertible.
173* In ''Webcomic/MerchantBand'', Amira has full control of an Orb Stallion which is essentially a {{Magitek}} horse with an orb for a head.
174* Shiratz in ''Webcomic/UNAFrontiers'' is a 4,000-year-old alien probe that looks like a rather smallish but refined Pinto riding horse. He is realistic enough to pass a non-invasive veterinary inspection.
175[[/folder]]
176
177[[folder:Web Original]]
178* In the second episode of ''Podcast/StationArcadia'', Noah rides a diesel-powered horse through a war zone too toxic for live horses.
179* In the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'', Stalwart likes to go around in Arthurian-looking PoweredArmor he built himself. He has a robot horse he rides, too. It still breaks down a lot.
180[[/folder]]
181
182[[folder:Western Animation]]
183* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers'' has robo-horses, since many newly settled planets lack roads for wheeled vehicles.
184* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', ComicBook/JonahHex rides on a sleek mechanical horse-like robot after being dragged from his timeline by Mongul to have warriors fight in his "War World", taking place in a futuristic Wild West setting.
185* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bravestarr}}'': 30-30 is a talking cyborg horse who can switch between humanoid and quadruped forms, serves as Bravestarr's deputy, and carries a shotgun to boot.
186* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' has one episode in which a gang of cowboy-style robbers staged a hold-up on the school bus where the eponymous team gang is waiting to be taken to school. They all ride jet-powered mechanical ponies.
187* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'': Although shown only briefly, a few mechanical horses gallop along Dee-dee (who transforms into a horse after begging her brother to turn her into a pony) as part of a testing ground assessing the strengths of her new body.
188* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': In one of the twists in "[[Recap/FuturamaS7E1131stCenturyFox 31st Century Fox]]", not only are the fox and the dogs robotic, but so are the horses that the fox hunters ride on; the horses even work as helicopters and can validate parking.
189* The fan-favorite ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' episode "Origin of the Sorceress" features Stridor, Man-At-Arms' hand-built robot mount for He-Man, which Cringer/Battle Cat views with no small amount of distaste. It even gets a HeroicSacrifice-turned-DisneyDeath fighting a villain called... wait for it... [[ShoutOut Morgoth]] the [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Terrible]].
190* ''WesternAnimation/HongKongPhooey'': In the two-part finale, "Comedy Cowboy", the outlaw Tin Nose rides a mechanical horse.
191* ''WesternAnimation/TheImpossibles'': Billy the Kidder rides a rocket-powered mechanical horse.
192* One of Heloise's many inventions in ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'', which she intends to pull a carriage for her and Jimmy.
193* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' has a few of these in the episode "[[Recap/KimPossibleS3E5ShowdownAtTheCrookedD Showdown at the Crooked D]]". Kim's uncle has a technologically advanced ranch where the horses are the norm.
194* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': Occurs when Jack is fighting off cowboys in a steampunk-based future part of TheWildWest. Instead of legs, the robot steeds hover above the ground.
195* ''WesternAnimation/{{Slugterra}}'' has Mecha Beasts, which come in all sorts of animal forms, including horses.
196* Queen Aleena from ''WesternAnimation/SonicUnderground'' is shown on a robot horse in flashbacks. It can be assumed that these horses belong to the Hedgehog Dynasty and were claimed as Robotnik's when he usurped the throne
197* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': Plankton has a one-eyed robot ''sea''horse in the episode "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS10E7PlanktonRetiresTridentTrouble Plankton Retires]]".
198* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' features Cyborg riding a mechanical horse while "The Night Begins to Shine" plays.
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201[[folder:Real Life]]
202* One of the early projects of ''automobile'', back in the 1800s, included a ''papier-mâché'' wheeled horse with engine inside. The idea was to make it less scary to other horses (and some of the more conservative folks as well). [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsey_Horseless Here's]] some proof. Seriously... That particular early automobile ''was actually named and marketed as the'' [[AlliterativeName "Horsey]] [[PunnyName Horseless"]]!
203* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1czBcnX1Ww BigDog]] mechanical mule.
204** And now, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE3fmFTtP9g The WildCat.]] It has an added effect of being [[NightmareFuel absolutely terrifying.]]
205** The successor to the [=BigDog=], the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legged_Squad_Support_System Legged Squad Support System]], that was in development for [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks US Armed Forces]], is, in essence, a mechanical packhorse, designed to carry equipment and supplies and collect intelligence for soldiers in urban situations or rough terrain. Like [=BigDog=], it was shelved for having an ''extremely'' loud motor for a robot pack mule (similar to a leaf blower) as well as being difficult to integrate with Marine squads.
206** Boston Dynamics has also developed [=SpotMini=], their quietest quadruped yet as its motors sound like someone walking on squeaky floors. About the size of a miniature horse, the [=SpotMini=] can easily move around homes and offices and its arm/head is strong enough to open doors and light enough to hold cans. Unfortunately, its battery is limited to a maximum of 90 minutes per charge depending on how often it is used and the type of job.
207* A concept design by Jason Battersby has a real-life version. Called the Nomad, it even gets energy from eating vegetation [[http://www.flylyf.com/project-nomad-jason-battersby/]].
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