Shadowfax is the name of Gandalf’s exceptionally swift horse in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
Shadowfax belongs to the Mearas, a remarkable line of horses associated with Rohan. Tolkien presents these horses as faster, more intelligent, and more enduring than ordinary horses. Shadowfax initially resists human control, but he eventually accepts Gandalf as his rider.
Gandalf rides Shadowfax during the later stages of The Lord of the Rings, including the journey to Minas Tirith and the war against Sauron. The horse’s speed allows Gandalf to travel rapidly between important locations and reinforces his role as a messenger and strategist.
Readers sometimes confuse Shadowfax with named horses in the films or with horses ridden by other characters. Brego is associated with Aragorn in the film adaptations, while Hasufel is one of the horses used by the Rohirrim.