In the heart of Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital, visitors are greeted by an eye-catching display of eight striking blue horse sculptures. Each horse is distinct, with its own name and personality: Rosalinda, Saturnina, Escapia, Sinforosa, Eufrosina, Ambrosio, Bonifacia, and Celestina. These remarkable pieces were created by Aruban artist Osaira Muyale and are part of a project called “Paarden Baai,” which translates to “Horses Bay,” named after the nearby bay close to the city’s cruise terminals.
The statues, installed in 2015, commemorate a unique chapter of Aruba’s history when horses were transported by ship and would swim across the Caribbean Sea to reach Paardenbaai. The vivid blue color of the sculptures represents the ocean that these animals crossed, symbolizing both their journey and Aruba’s maritime heritage. The collection embodies qualities such as strength, nobility, grace, beauty, and freedom while celebrating Aruba’s historical trade connections with Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean.
The name “Paardenbaai” has deep roots in Aruba’s colonial and trade history. During the 1700s, the island was actively involved in cattle and horse trading, with horses brought from the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia. Indigenous people near Forti Abow, the area now hosting the Paardenbaai pier, assisted in the process. Once on the island, the horses thrived in the ranches, known locally as ranchos, where they could roam freely and reproduce. By the 1800s, horse exports had become an important part of Aruba’s economy, particularly in supporting trade with sugar-producing regions.
Today, the blue horse sculptures stand as a celebration of this rich past, honoring Aruba’s cultural heritage, its historical trade networks, and the enduring spirit of the island’s people. They are a reminder of the island’s connection to the wider world and the stories carried across its waters.
