1990 Chinese zodiac —
the Metal Horse
| Animal sign | Horse 午 — the Metal Horse |
|---|---|
| Element | Yang Metal (庚) |
| 1990 Horse year | Jan 27, 1990 – Feb 14, 1991 |
| Born Jan 1 – Jan 26, 1990 | Earth Snake of 1989 |
| Korean saju year | Starts at Ipchun, Feb 4, 1990 |
| Best matches | Goat, Tiger, Dog |
| Next Horse year | 2038 (Earth Horse) |
| Age in 2026 | 36 (Korean age 37) |
People born between Jan 27, 1990 and Feb 14, 1991 are a Metal Horse. The Metal Horse is independent and headstrong, with great stamina and a strong need for freedom.
Born in January or early February 1990?
The 1990 Horse year began at Chinese New Year on Jan 27, 1990. If you were born from January 1 to Jan 26, 1990, your sign is the Earth Snake of 1989. The year ended on Feb 14, 1991, so birthdays in early 1991 up to that date still count as Horses.
The Korean saju year starts at Ipchun
In Korean saju (the Four Pillars), the year pillar changes at Ipchun, the start of spring — Feb 4, 1990 at about 11:11 Korea time — not at Lunar New Year. A birthday from Jan 27 to Feb 3, 1990 is already a Horse by Lunar New Year but still 己巳 (Earth Snake) in a saju chart. Why saju starts the year at Ipchun →
The Metal Horse personality
The Metal Horse is independent and headstrong, with great stamina and a strong need for freedom. Metal brings resolve, standards and clean decisions.
Horses are bright, active and fast. They hate being tied down and are always half a step toward the next new thing. Strengths: energy and enthusiasm; quick decisions; warmth that lifts a group. Watch for: restlessness; moods that swing with circumstances; losing interest before the finish.
Compatibility
Best matches for the Horse: Goat (96/100), Tiger (84/100), Dog (84/100). Hardest: Rat (32), Ox (45). All twelve Horse matches →
Age
People born in the 1990 Horse year turn 36 in 2026 (37 in Korean age) and 37 in 2027. The same Metal Horse returns every sixty years — 1930 and 2050.
Horse years
1930 Metal · 1942 Water · 1954 Wood · 1966 Fire · 1978 Earth · 1990 Metal · 2002 Water · 2014 Wood · 2026 Fire
The Horse in 2027
The Year of the Fire Goat gives the Horse 95/100 — an excellent year. Read the 2027 forecast →
Questions about the 1990 zodiac
What Chinese zodiac animal is 1990?
1990 is the Year of the Horse — the Metal Horse (庚午). The Horse year runs from Jan 27, 1990 to Feb 14, 1991: it starts at Chinese New Year, not on January 1.
Is someone born in January 1990 a Horse?
Only if the birthday falls on or after Jan 27, 1990, when the Horse year began. From January 1 to Jan 26, 1990, the sign is still the Earth Snake of 1989.
What element is the 1990 Horse?
Metal. The year stem 庚 is yang metal, so everyone born in the 1990 Horse year is a Metal Horse. Metal brings resolve, standards and clean decisions.
When is the next Year of the Horse?
2038 — the Earth Horse. The Metal Horse itself comes back every sixty years — 1930 and 2050.
Who is the Horse most compatible with?
The Horse’s best matches are the Goat (96/100), the Tiger (84/100) and the Dog (84/100); the hardest are the Rat (32) and the Ox (45).
Nearby years
← 1989 Earth Snake · 1991 Metal Goat → · All years and the calculator
