For more than three decades, horses have been part of the daily routine on one Disney park's Main Street, U.S.A.
From the horse-drawn streetcars at Disneyland in California to the trolleys that still roll down Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom, horses remain one of the last operating links to Walt Disney's vision of an early-1900s American town.
Not every Disney resort has kept that tradition alive. Hong Kong Disneyland uses gas-powered vehicles instead, while Shanghai Disneyland's Mickey Avenue was designed without horses from the beginning.
Now, that list is getting even shorter.
Disneyland Paris Retires Its Main Street Horses
Disneyland Paris has confirmed that it will retire all of the horses currently working on Main Street, U.S.A. by the end of 2026, bringing an end to a tradition that has been in place since the park opened in 1992.
The resort's Percherons currently pull the horse-drawn streetcars that travel between Town Square and Central Plaza, offering guests a slower route through the entrance land while recreating the atmosphere of turn-of-the-century America.
Although the attraction remains listed on the Disneyland Paris website, its days are now numbered.
“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 said where the horses will be relocated once they leave service.
The company has also not announced any future plans for the backstage stable area in Frontierland where the horses are currently housed. While the space could eventually be repurposed as Disneyland Paris continues to expand, no plans have been confirmed.
The decision follows another reduction in the resort's use of horses. Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, the long-running dinner show in Disney Village that featured horses throughout its performances, permanently closed in 2020.
Horses have always been more than scenery on Main Street, U.S.A. At Disneyland, horse-drawn streetcars have operated since opening day in 1955, while Magic Kingdom introduced its own version when the park debuted in 1971. Alongside the fire engine, omnibus, jitney, and horseless carriage, they remain one of the opening-day transportation experiences still operating today.
Fans Divided Over Disney's Decision
Reaction to the announcement has been mixed.
Some fans welcomed the decision, arguing that retiring the horses is the right move.
“It's probably kinder to those horses, to be honest,” one Reddit user wrote.
Another added, “That’s good, horses should be in fields not Theme Parks.”
Others questioned whether guest experience played a bigger role than 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 commented, “Eh this is one cost saving measure disguised as caring that I can live with.”
The move also comes as other European attractions have stepped away from live animal entertainment. Last year, Efteling permanently ended its Raveleijn show, which featured horseback stunt performances, while Paris banned pony rides for children in public parks in 2025.
Disney, however, continues to maintain a significant horse program elsewhere.
At Walt Disney World, guests can still see horses pulling the Main Street, U.S.A. trolley at Magic Kingdom. Beyond the park gates, Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort is home to Appaloosas, Arabians, Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons, Quarter Horses, and Shetland Ponies.
The ranch cares for the horses used across Walt Disney World, including those seen on Main Street, U.S.A. and in parades. Guests can also book trail rides, carriage rides at Fort Wilderness and Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, and seasonal sleigh rides during the holidays.
Horses continue to appear during select entertainment offerings, too. The Headless Horseman remains one of the opening moments of Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade at Magic Kingdom, while Cinderella's ponies can often be seen at Tri-Circle-D Ranch.
The use of horses at Disney parks has occasionally sparked debate. In 2020, a horse carrying Merida during a Magic Kingdom cavalcade was startled by a balloon, prompting renewed discussion about the role of live animals in busy theme park environments.
In 2024, guests again accused Disney of using “agitated” horses during a parade.
Do you think Disney is making the right move by axing its horses?
