At Shwezigon Phaya in Bagan, the statue of a white horse is caressed by local worshippers as they pass it by. The horse is assumed to represent either Kanthaka, i.e. the snow-white horse of Prince Siddharta, which was born on the same day as its master and died of sorrow after it carried the prince away from the palace during the Great Departure...

... or the white horse that ‒according to royal chronicles‒ King Kyansittha (fig.), during whose reign this pagoda was completed, used to ride while leading the procession at the dedication ceremony of newly Buddhist temples.