Disney’s horses aren’t disappearing everywhere — but one resort is about to say goodbye to them.
Across Disney parks, horses still pull vintage streetcars, lead Halloween parades, and live at one of the company’s largest equestrian facilities. They have been part of Disney’s parks since Disneyland opened in 1955, helping bring Walt Disney’s vision of turn-of-the-century America to life.
But that tradition has become increasingly uncommon.
Hong Kong Disneyland operates motorized Main Street vehicles, while Shanghai Disneyland’s Mickey Avenue was designed without horses. Soon, another Disney resort will join that list.
Disneyland Paris Ends Horse-Drawn Streetcars
Disneyland Paris has confirmed that it will retire every horse currently working on Main Street, U.S.A. by the end of 2026.
The resort’s Percherons have pulled horse-drawn streetcars along Main Street, U.S.A. since Disneyland Paris opened in 1992. The attraction transports guests between Town Square and Central Plaza and is one of the park’s original opening-day experiences.
For now, the attraction remains listed on the Disneyland Paris website.
“If you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the sidewalks between Town Square and Central Plaza, then why not travel in style?” Disney says. “Just climb aboard one of Main Street’s ornate horse-drawn streetcars and let your majestic Percheron clip clop along the brick-paved streets while you relax in ultimate splendour and comfort.”
Disney has not announced where the horses will go after they retire.
The company has also not revealed what will become of the Frontierland stable where the horses are currently kept.
The announcement follows another major change to the resort’s horse program. Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, which featured horses throughout its performances in Disney Village, permanently closed in 2020.
While Disneyland Paris is ending its horse-drawn streetcars, the animals remain part of daily operations elsewhere.
At Disneyland in California, horses continue pulling the Main Street streetcar first introduced on opening day in 1955. Magic Kingdom also continues operating horse-drawn streetcars, while Walt Disney World’s Tri-Circle-D Ranch cares for the horses used throughout the resort.
The ranch is home to Appaloosas, Arabians, Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons, Quarter Horses, and Shetland Ponies. Guests can visit the facility, book trail rides and carriage rides, or take holiday sleigh rides during the Christmas season.
Disney horses also continue appearing during select entertainment, including the Headless Horseman’s ride before Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade at Magic Kingdom.
Guests Are Split on the Move
The decision has sparked debate among Disney fans.
Some believe retiring the horses is the right decision.
“It’s probably kinder to those horses, to be honest,” one Reddit user wrote.
Another said, “That’s good, horses should be in fields not Theme Parks.”
Others questioned whether the decision was really about animal welfare.
“It’s 100% about cutting back on the guest experience to save a few quid. Anyone who thinks otherwise is naive,” one fan wrote.
Another added, “Eh this is one cost saving measure disguised as caring that I can live with.”
The discussion comes as other European attractions have reduced their use of live animals. Efteling permanently retired its horseback Raveleijn show last year, while a 2025 law banned pony rides for children in Paris public parks.
Disney has faced similar scrutiny before. In 2020, a horse carrying Merida during a Magic Kingdom character cavalcade was startled by a balloon, prompting renewed discussion among fans about the use of horses in busy theme park environments.
And in 2024, a Disney World guest was allegedly bucked off a horse and fractured her leg while on a horse-riding excursion at Fort Wilderness Resort.
Do you think Disney should still have horses?
