Red Dead Redemption 2 had one of the most colorful casts of characters Rockstar Games has created. The Western followed the story of a life-long outlaw, Arthur Morgan, a high-ranking member of the Van der Linde gang, a group of bandits on the run from the law after a botched steamboat robbery. Through their adventures across the American frontier, players get to know the Van der Linde crew. Each gang member's disposition shined in conversations with Arthur, but they were also reflected by the horses they choose to ride.
Out of the entire Van der Linde troop, 15 owned their own horses with their own names. While these steeds might have appeared as simple modes of transport, each character shared a bond with their horse that rubbed off some of their personalities on the animal. RDR2 let Arthur connect with his horse, which suggested important characters in the Western also had a link with their mounts.
The supporting cast's nature could be seen in the horse breed they chose to ride, what they named their steed, and their coat color. Here's what each of the Van der Linde gang members' horses said about them as characters.
[Warning: Spoilers for Red Dead Redemption 2 below.]
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Arthur Morgan
While Arthur rides any horse that players gave him during their adventures, he begins Red Dead Redemption 2 with a Tennessee Walker. The breed is known for its ability to trot on long adventures without much need to rest. Arthur's story in RDR2 is defined by the need to constantly be moving to either evade the law, deal with his past, or look to new horizons. Much like his starting steed, he isn't afraid of winding journeys.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Dutch van der Linde
Red Dead Redemption 2's Van der Linde gang leader was a showman incarnate whose boundless charisma inspired those around him even when he didn't have any hope in his plan. RDR2's plot was centered around the spiraling downfall of Dutch as he got his allies in exponentially more trouble with each convoluted heist plan. His lavish mount, an albino Arabian steed he called The Count, is an incarnation of the calm, composed, and elegant façade he kept throughout the most hectic parts of Rockstar's Western.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Hosea Matthews
Red Dead Redemption 2's Hosea was a life-long swindler that retired from gunslinging and instead devised all of the Van der Linde gang's schemes.
He was a wise mastermind that always looked for a way to make a quick buck. That's why his grey Turkoman horse, Silver Dollar, was so aptly named.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: John Marston
RDR2's John is far from the man gamers met in the original Red Dead Redemption. He was hot-headed, wild, and laughed in the face of danger, which saw him come close to death several times. He rode a Hungarian Halfbread horse he named Old Boy. The breed is known for its fearlessness in battle, just like John's willingness to ride into the unknown, guns blazing.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Micah Bell
RDR2's Micah Bell was best known as the Van der Linde gang degenerate. He was obnoxious, bigoted, and a generally foul person to be around, which made him a particularly good outlaw. In the end, he betrays the Van der Linde gang, proving that he's the snake Arthur always thought it was. His Missouri Fox Trotter horse, Baylock, is black and white, which can be seen as a symbol of Micah's two-faced character.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Bill Williamson
Bill was Micah's right-hand man and known as the Van der Linde crew bully in Red Dead Redemption 2, who was always looking to pick a fight to prove how tough he was. Despite that, his unmatched grit made him a formidable outlaw that few people were courageous enough to cross.
He rode an Ardennes horse named Brown Jack, a breed that is all muscle with limited finesse and agility, much like Bill's attitude.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Josiah Trelawny
Josiah was a slick trickster that came and went as he saw fit throughout Red Dead Redemption 2's plot. He was known for his unmistakable elegance in the way he dressed, perfectly matched by his leopard-spotted steed, an Appaloosa named Gwydion.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Charles Smith
Charles also rode an Appaloosa named Taima, a horse breed renowned for its unbreakable stamina. Even though he's joined the Van der Linde gang later in Red Dead Redemption 2, Charles proves to be an invaluable hardworking member of the group thanks to his hunting and gunslinging skills. That's mirrored by Taima's stalwartness in the field.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Sadie Adler
RDR2's Sadie Adler transformed from a mourning widow to one of the gang's most skilled gunners. She eventually became a legendary bounty hunter who rode a Turkoman horse named Bob.
The breed is known for being impatient but irreplaceably hardworking, which reflects Sadie's decision in Red Dead Redemption 2 to take control of her fate after her husband's death.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Lenny Summers
Lenny was a young outlaw eager to make a name for himself that also loved to have a good time and chat with the rest of the Van der Linde crew. His saloon mission was one of RDR2's comedic highlights, and he provided some of the best conversations in the game, like talking to Arthur about his white privilege and teaching Sean MacGuire how to read.
He rode a Mustang named Maggie in Red Dead Redemption 2, a breed known for its work ethic and surefootedness. Unfortunately, confidence resulted in Lenny's shocking death during a San Denis bank robbery.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Uncle
Uncle was RDR2's vagabond that never pulled his weight but did just enough to make other members of the Van der Linde gang laugh to avoid being kicked to the curb. He rode a Kentucky Saddler named Nell II with a mustache, much like Uncle's unkempt hair and beard.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Javier Escuella
Javier was typically seen bragging about his criminal escapades or riding out with Arthur for a handful of Red Dead Redemption 2's missions. While he rarely held the limelight, he always stole scenes with his colorful outfits.
He rode an American Paint workhorse named Boaz, a breed known for its distinctive pattern and wild demeanor if left untamed. Boaz perfectly captured Javier's unique style and headstrong attitude.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Sean MacGuire
Sean was a proud Irish immigrant and one of the Van der Linde's youngest and hotheaded members. His horse, Ennis, was an American Standardbred racehorse, which perfectly captured Sean's willingness to dive headlong into any challenge. Unfortunately, that led to his untimely death early in the plot of RDR2.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Karen Jones
Red Dead Redemption 2's Karen rode a Nokota named Old Belle. These horses are known for their agility and capability to quickly adapt when things get dicey, just like Karen. While she was rarely the one doing the robbing, she used her wits to give the gang the upper hand when they needed it most. The best example is when she put on a schoolgirl act to distract tellers during a bank robbery.
RDR2 Horses Of The Van der Linde Gang: Kieran Duffy
Kieran had one of the most tragic arcs in Red Dead Redemption 2. Once an involuntary member of the O'Driscoll Boys, he was captured by Arthur and brought back to the Van der Linde camp. Kieran was kept as a hostage by Dutch until he saved Arthur's life during a raid of an O'Driscoll stronghold. Right as the gang was coming around to him, he was recaptured by the O'Driscolls, who decapitate him and send his corpse back to the Van der Linde camp holding his head.
He rode a Tennessee Walker named Branwen. The Red Dead Redemption 2 horse breed is known for its speed and acceleration but has low health and stamina, similarly to Kieran's life of running away from outlaws only to have his life cut short by them.