Which aviation ace's emblem inspired Ferrari's prancing horse symbol?

Ferrari’s prancing horse emblem was inspired by the emblem of aviation ace Francesco Baracca.

Baracca was Italy’s leading fighter ace of World War I, credited with 34 aerial victories. He displayed a black prancing horse on his aircraft, a personal symbol associated with his earlier service in the cavalry. The emblem became linked with Baracca after his death in 1918 and later entered Ferrari’s history through his family.

Enzo Ferrari said that he met Baracca’s parents after winning the Savio Circuit in Ravenna in 1923. Baracca’s mother, Paolina, reportedly suggested that Ferrari place her son’s horse on his racing cars because it would bring good luck. Ferrari accepted the idea, but the symbol did not appear on Scuderia Ferrari cars until 1932.

Ferrari changed the original design. The company placed the black horse on a canary-yellow background, associated with Enzo Ferrari’s home city of Modena, and added other racing details. The logo became associated with Ferrari’s road cars from 1947. It is often called the Cavallino Rampante, or “prancing horse,” and should not be confused with the unrelated horse on Porsche’s crest.