Quick answer: To tame an Equus in ARK Survival Ascended you need to be level 10: sneak up, feed it Simple Kibble (its favorite) or Rockarrot, mount it and stay on while it bucks. A level 150 one needs 12 Simple Kibble and about 10 minutes at official 1x rates; on Tharyon, with 8x taming, 2 kibble and roughly 2 minutes are enough.
Updated October 2026 for ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA).
The Equus is ARK’s horse and one of the best early tames. It is fast, has great stamina, its saddle works as a Mortar and Pestle and it is the only mount you can use the Lasso from. Perfect for scouting, escaping and early hunting.
Equus quick facts in ARK Survival Ascended
| Diet | Herbivore |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful; it runs off if you approach carelessly |
| Taming method | Passive (feed it while it is awake) |
| Preferred kibble | Simple Kibble |
| Best food | Rockarrot and Sweet Vegetable Cake |
| How to immobilize it | A bola or a pen to hold it before you start |
| How to knock it out | It is not knocked out: you tame it by riding and feeding it. Knocking it out resets the taming effectiveness |
| Saddle | Equus Saddle (level 20); it can also be ridden without a saddle |
| Maps (ASA) | The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Extinction, Valguero, Genesis: Part 1, Lost Island |
How to tame an Equus step by step
- Reach level 10 and put Simple Kibble or Rockarrots in the last hotbar slot.
- Approach crouched (a Ghillie Suit helps) so it does not run. For extra safety, trap it first with a bola and a pen.
- When the feeding prompt appears, press E once to feed it.
- Press E again to mount it: taming only progresses while you are riding.
- When it bucks and the icon lights up, press E in time to stay on. Do not spam E or you will dismount yourself.
- Repeat: feed it when it asks and stay mounted until it finishes. Avoid long swims and keep away from predators.
Equus taming food and taming calculator
These numbers come from ARK’s taming formula for a level 150 Equus. The 1x column is the official rate and the 8x column is Tharyon’s rate. They are estimates: hitting the sleeping creature or a game patch can change them slightly.
| Food | Amount 1x | Time 1x | Amount 8x (Tharyon) | Time 8x (Tharyon) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Kibble | 12 | 10 min | 2 | 2 min |
| Rockarrot | 23 | 18 min | 3 | 2 min |
| Sweet Vegetable Cake | 240 | 3 h 12 min | 30 | 24 min |
Equus taming time by level with Simple Kibble
| Level | Amount 1x | Time 1x | Amount 8x | Time 8x |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 4 | 3 min | 1 | 52 s |
| 60 | 6 | 5 min | 1 | 52 s |
| 100 | 9 | 8 min | 2 | 2 min |
| 150 | 12 | 10 min | 2 | 2 min |
Where to find the Equus in ARK Ascended
It lives in herds on open plains and grasslands. On Ragnarok it is common in the Highlands, and on Valguero you will find it near The Farm. It is a normal-sized prehistoric horse, easy to recognize from a distance.
Official ARK Survival Ascended maps where it spawns: The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Extinction, Valguero, Genesis: Part 1, Lost Island.
Equus abilities and uses
- It is the only mount you can use the Lasso from.
- Its saddle turns its inventory into a Mortar and Pestle.
- Reduces the weight of Cementing Paste, clay, sand and chitin.
- Its kick applies torpor and can knock out other creatures.
- Gathers berries by hitting bushes.
Equus variants
The Unicorn is a white horned version: only one can exist in the wild at a time and it only breeds with other Unicorns. The Aberrant Equus (Aberration) and R-Equus (Genesis: Part 2) can also be tamed; the R-Equus trades a little health for more damage.
Equus breeding
Gestation takes 7 h 56 min and the baby needs 1 d 22 h 18 min to reach adulthood at official rates. On Tharyon (25x hatching and 35x maturation) that drops to about 19 min and 1 h 19 min.
Tips and mistakes to avoid
- Every time it throws you off, effectiveness drops; bring extra food.
- If you want it to knock creatures out with its kicks, level Health and Melee Damage.
- Combine it with bolas to pin targets from its back.
Tame your Equus faster on Tharyon
On Tharyon taming runs at 8x: a level 150 Equus is ready in about 2 min instead of 10 min.
- ARK Survival Ascended with crossplay: PC, PS5 and Xbox.
- 8x taming, 2.5x XP and harvesting, 35x maturation and 25x hatching.
- 11 PvE maps: The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Ragnarok, Valguero, Lost Island, Genesis 1, Astraeos and Forglar.
- Automatic events (a supply crate every 60 minutes and an event creature every 70), quests and an in-game shop.
To join, hop into our Discord and use the /link command. See every rate in the rates section.
Equus taming FAQ
What does the Equus eat for taming?
Simple Kibble first and Rockarrot second. Sweet Vegetable Cake also works, but it takes much longer.
How long does it take to tame an Equus?
A level 150 one takes about 10 minutes with Simple Kibble at 1x. On Tharyon (8x) it takes about 2 minutes.
What level do I need to tame a horse in ARK?
Character level 10. The Equus Saddle unlocks at level 20, although you can ride it without one.
Why does the Equus throw me off while taming?
It bucks during taming. Press E right when the icon lights up; if you miss or spam it, you dismount and lose effectiveness.
Why is my Equus not taming?
It is almost always one of these: it is not hungry yet (it only eats when its food bar drops, so the first bite can take a while), the food in its inventory is not one it accepts, it woke up because torpor ran out, or something is attacking it. Check that the taming bar goes up every time it eats.
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