2026 marks the Year of the Horse. In the Chinese Zodiac, the horse is tied to momentum, confidence, and forward motion. A year associated with speed and the kind of restless energy that rewards people who actually move.

Nike is tapping into that symbolism by dressing one of its most foundational sneakers in that spirit.

The Nike Air Force 1 ’07 “Year of the Horse” takes the Uptown and turns it into a quiet good-luck charm for the year ahead, built for everyday wear rather than ceremonial flexing. Rather than going loud or costume-y, the sneaker leans restrained.

The leather upper arrives lightly faded, almost patinated, with better materials than standard general release shoes and a slightly slimmer feel than the bulkier Air Force 1 sneakers that dominated the early 2000s. That familiar shape becomes the canvas.

Scattered across the monochromatic upper are embroidered Pegasus motifs, small and deliberate, like movement frozen mid-stride. Easy to miss at first glance, which feels intentional. This is symbolism meant to live with you, not shout over the shoe itself.

The result is an Air Force 1 that feels considered rather than commemorative. It sits on the opposite end of the spectrum from Nike’s more maximal Lunar New Year releases or louder zodiac takes like the flashy Shox Ride or ornate Field General experiments. Here, the message is baked into the details.

Available now on Nike’s website as a Japan-exclusive for around $110, the Air Force 1 “Year of the Horse” keeps things grounded. If 2026 is about choosing momentum over hesitation, starting from the ground up feels like the right move.

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