The horse held a significant yet complex place in ancient and medieval India, with its presence notably absent in the Harappan civilization but prominent in Indo-Aryan culture, as reflected in texts like the Rig Veda. Horses were central to warfare, religion, and symbolism across various traditions including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. The Mauryan Empire and subsequent polities incorporated cavalry alongside infantry and elephants, with cavalry becoming especially important during the Sultanate and Mughal periods. Horses were primarily imported from Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East through extensive land and sea trade networks, supported by infrastructure like caravanserais. Local breeding also flourished in regions such as Punjab-Sindh, Gujarat, and Bengal, producing distinct breeds valued for their stamina and strength, though imported Arab-Persian horses were often preferred by elites.

The arrival of Central Asian Turks introduced mounted archery and advanced cavalry tactics, transforming Indian warfare until the colonial era when European-style infantry reduced cavalry’s military role. British colonial rule disrupted traditional horse trade and breeding, favoring imported horses and imposing racial biases against local breeds, which led to the eclipse of India’s indigenous equestrian culture. Beyond warfare, horses were celebrated in art, literature, and folklore, with equestrian portraits and stories highlighting bonds between humans and horses across social strata. Bengal, in particular, had a vibrant horse culture with unique local breeds and a rich tradition of horse representation in art and popular memory, continuing into the colonial period’s equestrian clubs and races.