Dance with Death: Interpreting the symbolism of Arya and the pale horse

Where did Arya’s pale horse come from? It didn’t materialize out of thin air. Look at this still from earlier in the episode: the white mount belongs to Harry Strickland, the leader of the Golden Company.

There’s no doubt that the horse Harry Strickland rides is the same horse that meets Arya in the street; the animal is ash-covered and bloodstained, yes, but the forelock and the bridle’s snaffle bits match, plus the horse has a distinct pattern of pink mottling on its muzzle. It’s the same horse.

But we saw that horse die, right?

When Drogon destroys the King’s Landing gates and wipes out much of the Golden Company, we see Harry Stickland thrown from his horse by a flood of dragonfire.

Strickland’s horse tumbles violently to the ground and lies motionless. The shot lingers on the fallen steed for a moment. With its back legs stuck in the air, the horse sure looks dead. Yet the horse later appears to Arya and carries her away.