| For the myth in GTA San Andreas, see Horses in Las Barrancas. |
Horses are a false myth in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Description[]
Horses were initially considered to be intended for inclusion in the game but axed during the early development stages. The rumor began after vague claims were posted by a Neoseeker user named Poopy in the September of 2002. The poster claimed to have a relative who worked at Rockstar Games and briefly witnessed early gameplay from GTA Vice City, including someone riding a horse:
| “ | Anyways I ask her what does she know about GTA:Miami and she says: 'Well... when I say I seen them play it what I mean is that I was only in the room for a few seconds at a time so I didn't really get a good look at it.' I prompt her by asking about what kind of cars and stuff did you see them driving. And she says: 'I seen them driving a moped type moterbyce and some weird lookin beach cars that looked like those Golf carts and there was one time when they were riding a horse.' But then she gets all devensive and says that they work on loads of different games at Rockstar and it could be a different game she's talkin about. | ” |
–Poopy on Neoseeker | ||
After hearing these claims, many players rebuked the post and considered it fan fiction, while others agreed that the relative might have instead seen a different unknown Rockstar Games project. Overall, the existence of horses either in the beta or in the final release is recognized as false.
Horses are referenced throughout the game, however. In the opening cutscene for the mission The Chase, Ricardo Diaz is seen watching a horse betting race on television. Upon losing, Diaz smashes the TV and loudly exclaims "Stupid horse! I'll chop your head off!" as Tommy Vercetti enters the room.[1] This is likely a reference to the infamous scene in the film The Godfather where a decapitated horse's head was left in a character's bed to intimidate him, and not any evidence towards horses ever being planned for the game. Horse betting became a feature in the next Grand Theft Auto release, San Andreas.