Nelson

Nelson was George Washington's favorite horse — a white American Quarter Horse who carried him through the Revolutionary War and into the history books.

George Washington was one of the finest horsemen of his time. He loved horses, and he owned many of them. But none was as special as Nelson, a white American Quarter Horse who became Washington's most trusted companion during the darkest days of the Revolutionary War.

Washington received Nelson as a gift from Thomas Nelson, a fellow Virginian. The horse was strong, calm under fire, and incredibly loyal. Washington rode Nelson throughout the war, including during the famous crossing of the Delaware River in 1776 and the siege of Yorktown in 1781, where the British finally surrendered.

Nelson was distinctive — a white horse standing out on the battlefield, making Washington an easy target. But the risk was worth it. The troops came to recognize Nelson, and seeing the general on his white horse was a powerful symbol of hope and determination. After the war, Washington refused to let anyone else ride Nelson.

When Washington became president, Nelson was too old to make the trip to New York and then Philadelphia (the capital cities before Washington, D.C.). He lived out his days at Mount Vernon, Washington's Virginia estate. When Washington died in 1799, legend says Nelson died heartbroken soon after. The two were buried at Mount Vernon, not far from each other.