The 15 Most Influential Animals That Ever Lived

Bucephalus 

 Without his trusted horse Bucephalus, Alexander the Great may have just been Alexander the Mediocre. Though his backstory has a bit of a mythical air to it, Bucephalus was indeed a real horse, and perhaps one of the world’s most famous. As legend has it, the hulking black horse was afraid of his own shadow, and, understanding this, Alexander always made sure to turn the creature’s head toward the sun. This special bond between man and beast meant that when it came time for battle, they were an unstoppable duo. Historians disagree about how he died — either battle wounds or old age — but when he did, Alexander founded a city in his honor and called it Bucephala.

 From a horse that conquered the world to a dog that helped a man win the White House, a look at the creatures that most shaped human history.