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The Black Stallion — by Walter Farley
The Black Stallion Series in Order: 20 books
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The Black Stallion
Book - 1
The wildest of all wild creatures...a stallion unbroken, untamed! That was the Black Stallion -- a fabulous horse who shared a desert island with a shipwrecked boy...who was tamed by the boy's love...and who carried his young friend through amazin...
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The Black Stallion Returns
Book - 2
Alec Ramsay has had to return the Black Stallion to an Arabian chieftain who has proven ownership of the mighty horse and taken him to Arabia. Determined to buy the Black, Alec travels halfway around the world to a land of mystery and intrigue. What ...
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Son of the Black Stallion
Book - 3
Black's Blood When the Black Stallion's arrives from Arabia, young Alec believes his dreams have come true. Satan is everything a horse should be: beautiful, spirited, and intelligent. But veteran trainer Henry sees something disturbing in the colt's...
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The Island Stallion
Book - 4
Flame was a dream horse! Steve Duncan had a haunting vision of finding a magnificent red stallion ...and finally discovered him in a hidden island paradise. But the giant horse was wild and unapproachable. Then Steve saved Flame from a horrible deat...
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The Black Stallion and Satan
Book - 5
Who's the Fastest One of All? The Black's son Satan has just won the Triple Crown championship, and Alec should be the happiest guy in the world. But he's miserable. He still misses the Black, who's far off in Arabia with his rightful owner, Sheikh ...
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The Black Stallion's Blood Bay Colt
Book - 6
Born to race Veteran driver Jimmy Creech wants desperately to make a comeback in harness racing. All his hopes are riding on a colt named Bonfire, the second son of the Black Stallion. Bonfire has inherited his mother's gentle disposition and the...
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The Island Stallion's Fury
Book - 7
Only Steve Duncan and his friend Pitch know of the valley hidden behind the high cliffs of the remote Caribbean Azul Island. And only the two of them know of the beautiful, purebred horses that live there, under the watchful eye of the great red stal...
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The Black Stallion's Filly
Book - 8
"She'll never be a racehorse," murmurs the crowd as Black Minx is led into the sales ring. But Alec Ramsay thinks differently and buys the Black's first filly to train her for the Kentucky Derby. But Black Minx, like her sire, has a mind of her own. ...
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The Black Stallion Revolts
Book - 9
Never fully tamed, the Black has attacked and nearly killed another horse. Hoping that some freedom and open space will help calm the wild stallion, Alec Ramsay arranges for them to go to a huge desert ranch. But a terrible accident separates the two...
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The Black Stallion's Sulky Colt
Book - 10
Bonfire, the Black Stallion's colt who is a champion harness racer, is in training for the biggest race of his career: the Hambletonian. But a routine practice race turns disastrous in a collision of wood, metal, horses, and jockeys. Bonfire escapes ...
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The Island Stallion Races
Book - 11
More than anything, Steve Duncan dreams of racing his huge, wild stallion, Flame. The horse is untrained, but incredibly fast and Steve just wants to show him off. When two strangers show up and offer to make Steve's dream a reality, Steve cannot bel...
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The Black Stallion's Courage
Book - 12
When Hopeful Farm burns down, Alec's dreams for the future go up in smoke. How can he get the money to rebuild? To make matters worse, a strong young colt named Eclipse has taken the racing world by storm, threatening to replace the Black in the hear...
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The Black Stallion Mystery
Book - 13
Was the Black Stallion's sire alive? When Alec Ramsay saw the three handsome foreign-born colts, he couldn't believe his eyes. The colts were almost exact models of the Black Stallion! They must have had the same sire, but the official Arabian rec...
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The Horse-Tamer
Book - 14
While waiting for a delayed airplane, old Henry Dailey, the Black's trainer, tells young Alec Ramsay a story of his own youth, travelling with his brother, Bill. Bill Dailey's talent as a horse-whisperer was unmatched in the days before the automobil...
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The Black Stallion and Flame
Book - 15
Lost at sea! When their plane crashes in the Caribbean, Alec and the Black Stallion are swept apart -- to struggle for their lives in shark-infested waters. While Alec manages to make it safely back to civilization, the exhausted stallion lets the...
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The Black Stallion Challenged
Book - 16
The Black is the fastest horse in America, and Alec Ramsay is preparing him for a big race. Suddenly there comes a new challenger: the Island Stallion, Flame! An unproven racer, Flame can run like the wind. And his jockey, Steve Duncan, knows that th...
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The Black Stallion's Ghost
Book - 17
While riding the Black in the Everglades one day, Alec meets a man astride a ghostly gray mare. Alec's fascination with the man turns to fear as he realizes the man is dangerously close to insanity. Soon Alec and the Black are caught up in a deadly c...
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The Black Stallion and the Girl
Book - 18
Hopeful Farm's success has greatly increased Alec and Henry's workload, and finally, Alec decides to seek help. When Pam Athena, a very diminutive and very pretty girl applies for the job, Alec can't imagine that she could be of any use. But then he ...
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The Black Stallion Legend
Book - 20
When Alec's fiancee is killed in a tragic accident, he flees west with the Black. Dazed and heartsick, Alec wanders in the desert until a Native American boy rescues him from near death and recounts a startling prophecy. According to legend, a rider ...
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The Young Black Stallion
Book - 21
WILD AND FREE Born in the mountain stronghold of an Arabian sheikh, the Black Stallion is a horse like no other. Big, beautiful, and savage, he has courage in his heart and fire in his eyes. Surely this magnificent creature is destined for greatness....
Series Premise
The series follows Alec Ramsay, a teenage boy from Flushing, New York, and his extraordinary relationship with the Black (also called Shetan), a magnificent, jet-black Arabian stallion of unmatched speed and spirit. The saga begins with Alec encountering the wild, untamed stallion aboard a ship returning from India (where Alec visited his uncle). A shipwreck strands them on a deserted tropical island, where mutual survival forges an unbreakable trust: Alec tames the feral horse through patience and kindness, and the Black saves Alec from starvation and danger. Rescued and returned to civilization, the Black becomes Alec's lifelong companion, leading to adventures involving racing, breeding, international intrigue, and threats from rivals or nature. Subsequent books expand the world: the Black sires legendary offspring (Satan, Bonfire, Black Minx), faces challenges from claimants or dangers, and inspires new stories (e.g., Flame, the island stallion in a parallel arc). Plots often involve high-stakes races (like match races or derbies), rescues, explorations of hidden islands or deserts, and conflicts with humans who seek to exploit or harm the horses (thieves, jealous owners, or wild herds). Later volumes delve into the Black's origins (prequels by Steven Farley) and family legacy. The core formula: a boy (or young man) and a wild/superior horse overcome odds through bond, speed, and bravery, emphasizing harmony between human and animal.
The Black Stallion Series Characters
> Alec Ramsay: The central protagonist—a brave, red-haired, freckled boy (teen in early books, young man later) with an innate love for horses. Resourceful, compassionate, and determined; his empathy tames the untamable Black. Grows from shipwreck survivor to champion rider/owner, embodying loyalty and courage.
> The Black (Shetan): The majestic black Arabian stallion—wild, powerful, coal-black with incredible speed and spirit. Initially feral and dangerous, he bonds deeply with Alec, becoming fiercely protective and race-dominant. Symbol of untamed freedom and equine perfection.
> Henry Dailey: Alec's elderly neighbor and mentor—former jockey/trainer, wise, kind-hearted, and horse-savvy. Provides barn space, training wisdom, and grandfatherly support; often narrates or advises in later books.
Supporting/Recurring:
> Henry's wife (Mrs. Dailey)—warm, nurturing figure.
> The Black's offspring: Satan (fiery colt), Bonfire, Black Minx (filly)—each gets spotlight books.
> Other figures: Abu Ishak (Arabian sheikh/original owner), rival trainers, jockeys, family (Alec's parents), and allies like Pitch (in island books).
The ensemble highlights mentorship, family, and horse-human bonds.
Setting of the The Black Stallion Series
Primarily mid-20th-century America (New York suburbs, Kentucky horse farms, racetracks like Belmont or Churchill Downs) with exotic global extensions: a deserted South Pacific-style island (first book), Arabian deserts, hidden volcanic islands (e.g., Azul Island in The Island Stallion), international locales (Arabia for origins, Europe/Australia for races). Key recurring spots include Alec's Flushing home (where the Black is stabled), Henry Dailey's barn/farm, and grand racetracks. The world blends realistic horse-racing culture (training, breeding, derbies) with adventurous wilderness—stormy seas, remote islands, vast plains—evoking freedom and peril. Period details feel authentic (no heavy tech, emphasis on manual care and riding), capturing the golden age of Thoroughbred racing and Arabian horse mystique.
Tone & Themes of the The Black Stallion Series
Exciting, inspirational, and wholesome—pure adventure with heart-pounding action, emotional depth, and uplifting triumphs. The tone is optimistic and empowering for young readers: no graphic violence (dangers are thrilling but resolved positively), heavy focus on loyalty, courage, and the joy of horsemanship. Descriptions of galloping across beaches, deserts, or racetracks evoke wonder and freedom, while human-horse bonds provide warmth and coming-of-age growth. Humor is gentle (Alec's mishaps, quirky characters), and moral lessons (kindness tames the wild, perseverance wins) feel natural rather than preachy. It's timeless "boy-and-his-horse" wish-fulfillment—addictive, feel-good escapism that celebrates nature, speed, and unbreakable friendship.
The Black Stallion series endures as a cornerstone of children's literature—thrilling tales of adventure, unbreakable bonds, and the magic of horses that inspire generations. Walter Farley's masterful storytelling captures the wild beauty of equines and the transformative power of trust, delivering timeless excitement and heart without sentimentality. With 20+ books of high-stakes races, exotic escapes, and heroic triumphs, it remains essential reading for young animal lovers, offering pure joy, inspiration, and the dream of riding the wind alongside a legendary stallion.
Books in this series fall into the following genres
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