'War Horse' (1982) is a book written by Michael Morpurgo about the experiences of Joey, a horse bought by the British Army for service in World War I. Meanwhile, Joey's 15-year-old owner, Albert, attempts to find Joey and bring him home safely. Morpurgo's book is considered one of his best books and has been developed into a play (2007) and a film (2011) directed by Steven Spielberg.

An estimated six million horses were used during WW1, although when the war began, the British only owned 25,000. Many people, such as Albert's father, sold their horses to the army after the breakout of the war. Morpurgo imagines how the horses coped with the sudden changes in their lives, going from living in peaceful fields to running through war-torn countries with shrapnel flying everywhere.

In the story, Joey is forced to carry soldiers into enemy lines where they are captured by the Germans. Soon, Joey finds himself working for the enemy until he escapes back to allied territory. When the war comes to an end, the British do not have the money to transfer the horses back to Britain, but Joey hopes Albert, now a young soldier, may still be able to save him.

Shortly after its publication, 'War Horse' came runner up in the 1982 Whitbread Book Awards. As a play, adapted by Nick Stafford, it won an Olivier Award, the Evening Standard Theatre Award and the London Critics' Circle Theatre Award.

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