They represent four apocalyptic forces that bring about the destruction of the world, and are named after the colors of their horses and their symbolic roles:
* Conquest: Pale Horse, meaning pale or sickly white, representing war and bloodshed.
* War: Red Horse or Blood Red Horse, representing conflict and violence.
* Famine: Black Horse, representing scarcity and hunger.
* Death: Pale Horse, Ash-colored Horse, or Death Horse, representing mortality and destruction.
It's important to note that the fourth horseman is sometimes described as "Death" himself instead of riding a pale horse.
Their appearance in the Book of Revelation marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation, a period of immense suffering and chaos before the second coming of Christ.