uma

horse

The horse is one of the twelve zodiac signs and so it is commonly found in a variety of forms throughout Japan. Uma came to Japan from the continent during prehistoric times. By 400 CE the horse was being used in battle. Because horses are considered messengers to the kami, they are important at Shinto shrines, hence the origin of ema. According to Shinto beliefs, the horse is thought to bring rain. In Buddhism, the horse is a mount for various deities. The horse is also fairly common in Japanese folktales.

Symbols of Japan: Thematic Motifs in Art and Design
Merrily Baird