The Real Truth Behind Simón Bolívar's Horse: Was Palomo Actually White?
By Alexander Ross
The fate of Palomo matches the fractured politics of the post-independence era. After accompanying Bolívar through the Southern Campaign into Ecuador and Peru, the horse was left behind in the Cauca Valley as Bolívar marched toward Bogotá to manage political fracturing in Gran Colombia.
Veterinary and municipal records indicate that Palomo died of advanced age in 1840 at the Hacienda Mulaló, near Yumbo in southwest Colombia. This timeline confirms the animal lived past twenty-five, a lifespan typical of well-tended native stock. His grave at Mulaló became an informal shrine, surrounded by local folklore.
Relics soon scattered across Colombian collections. Palomo's rusted horseshoes were preserved in the National Museum of Colombia in Bogotá and the Museo de Santa Rosa de Viterbo. Over the decades, these physical artifacts suffered periodic theft, authentication disputes, and political appropriation. Much like Bolívar's physical sword, stolen by the M-19 guerrilla movement in 1974 and re-elevated to presidential ceremonies in 2022, the horse's physical remnants became political instruments. Leaders across Latin America continue invoking Palomo’s name to suggest that their governing factions carry the authentic stamina of the founding revolution.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
