Have you ever thought about how Ferrari got its prancing horse badge? Well, it is not coincidental, let’s get that straight from the start. The iconic black stallion rearing on a yellow shield is a logo that everyone loves.
Ferrari is the ultimate supercar that most people dream about, and the iconic horse logo makes it even more desirable.
So, why a horse?
What does the prancing horse of the Ferrari emblem remind you of? I’d say speed, power, and horse racing. Horses have always been a symbol of speed, prestige, and power, words that go along with the Ferrari brand.
It is an emblem that doesn’t need any introduction – people immediately think of speed of the animals in the horse racing best bets.
Known as the Cavallino Rampante, this is an emblem that went alongside Ferrari’s rise from a scrappy racing outfit to a global luxury supercar brand.
But let’s dig a bit deeper and try to understand where this logo came from and what it represents.
Francesco Baracca and the Birth of the Symbol
The prancing horse emblem didn’t start with Ferrari. In fact, it began in the skies of World War I. Francesco Baracca, Italy’s top flying ace, shot down 34 enemy planes before his death in 1918 at age 30.
He was born in Lugo di Romagna and adorned his SPAD S.VII fighter with a black prancing horse on a white field, inspired by his cavalry roots in the Piemonte Reale regiment.
Baracca’s life and contribution on the battlefield made him a national hero, and his horse became a badge of honor. After his plane was downed near Montello, the legend grew. Some say he was shot, while others say that he took his own life rather than surrender.
Yes, the Ferrari emblem comes from a War, which is not something to be proud of, and let’s hope that we don’t get back to those days, but the important thing is what it represents.
Fast forward to 1923, Enzo Ferrari, then a 25-year-old racer with Alfa Romeo won the Circuito del Savio in Ravenna. He also met with Baracca’s parents, Count Enrico and Countess Paolina.
The Countess was struck by Enzo’s grit and suggested that he should adopt her son’s prancing horse for luck. She said that her son’s prancing horse would bring good fortune and luck to his cars.
Enzo really liked the idea, which is the original birth of the iconic Ferrari prancing horse. Kind of a crazy story, right?
From Alfa to Ferrari
Enzo didn’t slap the horse on his Alfa Romeos right away—he was racing under their banner, after all. In 1932, his Scuderia Ferrari racing team, still tied to Alfa, debuted the prancing horse on two Alfa Romeo 8C 2300s at the Spa 24 Hours, painted on a yellow shield honoring Modena, his hometown.
The black horse stood out, rearing left (unlike Baracca’s right-facing version), with “S F” initials beneath. Alfa pulled out of racing in 1938, letting Scuderia take the wheel, but it wasn’t until 1947 that the horse truly became Ferrari’s own.
That year, Enzo launched Automobili Ferrari and unveiled the 125 S—the first car to bear his name. The prancing horse, now sleek and simplified, adorned its grille, set against Modena’s canary yellow with Italy’s tricolor above.
Ferrari later wrote in his memoirs, “The horse was and remains an emblem of courage and audacity,” linking it to Baracca’s spirit and his own relentless drive.
Evolution of an Icon
The prancing horse has evolved subtly over decades. Early versions had a blocky tail and detailed hooves, but by the 1950s, it slimmed down for cleaner branding.
The yellow shield stayed, a nod to Modena’s coat of arms, while the tricolor stripe—green, white, red—cemented its Italian roots.
In racing, Ferrari’s Formula 1 cars carried it to glory—Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1956 title, Niki Lauda’s 1975 and 1977 wins, and Michael Schumacher’s five-peat from 2000-2004. Each victory burnished the horse’s shine.
Road cars like the 250 GTO (1962) and F40 (1987) wore it proudly, blending race-bred tech with luxury. By 1994, the logo got a modern polish—sharper lines, a slightly raised stance—for the F355 launch.
Today’s version, unchanged since, graces everything from the SF90 Stradale hybrid (1,000 hp,) to Ferrari’s fashion line, launched in 2021 with creative director Rocco Iannone.
A Shared Symbol
Ferrari isn’t the only one prancing. In 1956, Modena’s Ducati borrowed the horse for its motorcycles—specifically the 125 Desmo—after racer Fabio Taglioni pitched it as a local tribute. Enzo okayed it, and Ducati’s logo morphed into a winged horse by the ‘60s before dropping it in 1996 for a sleeker shield. The overlap’s a quirky footnote, tying two Italian speed icons to Baracca’s legacy.
The horse also popped up elsewhere—Porsche’s Stuttgart crest nods to a similar rearing steed, though it’s unrelated. Ferrari’s kept its version distinct, fiercely guarding the trademark; a 2018 lawsuit against a Swiss tuner proved they don’t mess around.
Cultural Significance
The prancing horse isn’t just a logo—it’s a cultural juggernaut. Ferrari’s 75th anniversary in 2022 was celebrated with a Maranello exhibition, tracing Baracca’s plane to the SF21 F1 car.
Hollywood’s latched on—Ford v Ferrari (2019) spotlighted the horse’s rivalry with Ford’s GT40 at Le Mans ’66, a race Ferrari lost but cemented its mystique.
In 2025, the logo’s on everything—$400 hoodies, $1.2 million Purosangue SUVs—raking in $5.8 billion yearly revenue. Yes, Ferrari makes a lot of money from merch (only including the logo on hoodies and caps).
Final Words
The story behind the prancing horse which became the emblem of Ferrari is quite interesting. It has war roots but also carries a lot of symbolism that goes really well with the brand.
One thing is for sure, we will see this symbol for years in the future as they are one of the most desirable supercars on the market.
