Year of the Horse
The horse (马, mǎ) is the seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac's 12-year cycle. Recent horse years include 1990, 2002, 2014 and 2026. Because the zodiac follows the traditional Chinese calendar, a horse year begins on Chinese New Year — a date between late January and mid-February — not on January 1. The exact boundaries for each recent horse year are listed below.
Exact horse year dates
Each horse year starts on Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next Chinese New Year.
| horse year | Gregorian date range |
|---|---|
| 1954 | Feb 3, 1954 – Jan 23, 1955 |
| 1966 | Jan 21, 1966 – Feb 8, 1967 |
| 1978 | Feb 7, 1978 – Jan 27, 1979 |
| 1990 | Jan 27, 1990 – Feb 14, 1991 |
| 2002 | Feb 12, 2002 – Jan 31, 2003 |
| 2014 | Jan 31, 2014 – Feb 18, 2015 |
| 2026 | Feb 17, 2026 – Feb 5, 2027 |
Born in January or February? Check the boundary
If you were born between January 1, 2026 and Feb 16, 2026, you are not a horse — you are a snake, because the snake year had not ended yet. The horse year only began on Chinese New Year, Feb 17, 2026. The same rule applies to every horse year in the table above: anyone born in January or early February needs to check the exact Chinese New Year date for their birth year rather than assuming the zodiac changed on January 1.
This site uses the Chinese New Year boundary convention — read how the zodiac year boundary works on the calculator page.
Am I a horse?
Enter your full birth date and the calculator will apply the exact Chinese New Year boundary for your birth year.
Check my zodiac animalThe horse in Chinese culture
The horse has been central to Chinese life for millennia — in farming, transport, warfare and sport — and it carries strongly positive symbolism. It stands for energy, speed, perseverance and success: a horse that covers a thousand li in a day (千里马) is the classic image of exceptional talent.
People born in horse years are traditionally said to be energetic, independent, warm-hearted and fond of freedom. These are cultural beliefs about the sign passed down through folklore, not facts about any individual person.
Horse idioms (成语) featuring 马
马到成功 mǎ dào chéng gōng
Literally: the horse arrives, success follows.
to succeed immediately; a common way to wish someone swift success in an exam, venture or journey.
龙马精神 lóng mǎ jīng shén
Literally: the spirit of the dragon-horse.
vigorous vitality and drive; often used to wish older people continued health and energy.
一马当先 yī mǎ dāng xiān
Literally: one horse takes the lead.
to charge ahead of everyone else; to take the lead in a task or competition.
万马奔腾 wàn mǎ bēn téng
Literally: ten thousand horses galloping.
a scene of surging momentum; describes something advancing at full speed and great scale.
Year of the Horse FAQ
Is 2026 the year of the horse?
Yes. The year of the horse began on Chinese New Year, Feb 17, 2026, and runs until Feb 5, 2027. Anyone born on or after Feb 17, 2026 is a horse; anyone born earlier in 2026 is a snake.
When does the year of the horse start and end?
A horse year starts on Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next Chinese New Year. The current horse year runs from Feb 17, 2026 to Feb 5, 2027. The table above lists the exact start and end dates for every recent horse year.
I was born in January 1990 — am I a horse or a snake?
It depends on the day. Chinese New Year 1990 fell on Jan 27, 1990. If you were born on or after Jan 27, 1990, you are a horse. If you were born between January 1 and Jan 26, 1990, you are a snake, because lunar year 1989 was still running.
Which years are years of the horse?
Recent horse years are 1990, 2002, 2014 and 2026, and the cycle repeats every 12 years. Remember that each horse year starts on its Chinese New Year date in January or February, not on January 1 — check the boundary table above for the exact dates.