Classification: Mythical Beasts & Cryptids

Temporal Range: 13th Century but possibly earlier

Geographic Range: Anywhere in the 9 realms

Diet: Unknown

Horde: Nordic

Described as “the best of horses,” Sleipnir is the great god Odin’s eight-legged steed. Eight legs might sound like an eldritch nightmare but these extra legs guaranteed both speed and stability for this mighty horse.

Sleipnir is the child of Loki (while he was transformed into a horse - weird, yes) and the stallion, Svaðilfari. While many of Loki’s other children were monsters who were punished in some way (because some of them were blamed for possibly inciting Ragnarök), Sleipnir became a favorite of Odin’s. 

Tales of Sleipnir’s size vary. While some say he was the size of a normal horse, just with eight legs (again, a nightmare of an image), others claim he was huge. So huge that he made a canyon when jumping into a forest. In all of these stories, no matter where Sleipnir and Odin ride, some evidence of their presence is left. Granted, a canyon is quite a large piece of evidence.

Due to the nature of his supernatural parents, Sleipnir is able to travel between all nine realms, moving with an ease that is not given to many. He is even able to ride up to Hel and jump over its gates. After reading all reports, we would have to agree with the earlier statement that Sleipnir is indeed “the best of horses.”