The Real Truth Behind Simón Bolívar's Horse: Was Palomo Actually White?
By Alexander Ross
Q1: Was Simón Bolívar’s horse Palomo actually pure white?
No. Archival evidence and equine genetics show that Palomo was a grey horse (tordillo). Born with dark pigmentation, his coat lightened over the years, appearing pale or mottled grey during his prime battle years, rather than solid chalk-white.
Q2: What breed of horse was Palomo?
Palomo was a Colombian Criollo, likely crossbred with regional Iberian stock. He stood approximately 14 to 14.2 hands (about 56 to 58 inches at the shoulder), possessing the stout bone density, thick hooves, and high altitude tolerance needed for Andean terrain.
Q3: Did Bolívar ride the same horse in all his battles?
No. Bolívar rode hundreds of horses and transport mules across his twenty-year military career. High combat casualties and harsh conditions over thousands of miles made relying on a single mount impossible. Palomo was his favorite mount during the 1819, 1824 campaigns, but other horses like Pastor and El Muchacho saw heavy service.
Q4: Where are the physical remains of Bolívar's horse located today?
Palomo died at the Hacienda Mulaló in Yumbo, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, in 1840, where a tombstone marks his burial site. Authentic horseshoes attributed to the horse are housed in the National Museum of Colombia in Bogotá and regional historical collections in Boyacá.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
