1990 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Metal Horse
庚午 · 马 Mǎ
1990 is the Year of the Metal Horse. The Chinese year ran from Jan 27, 1990 to Feb 14, 1991, so anyone born in that span is a Metal Horse. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Jan 27, 1990, and earlier births belong to the Earth Snake year.
- Horse
- Metal
- Yang
Born in 1990?
Enter your birth date to check, down to the exact Lunar New Year.
Month and day are optional. Add them if you were born in January or February. See January and February Chinese zodiac.
1990 at a Glance
- Animal
- Horse 马 mǎ
- Element
- Metal
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Year name
- 庚午 · sound element 路旁土
- Begins
- Saturday, Jan 27, 1990
- Ends
- Feb 14, 1991
- Age in 2026
- 35 or 36
- Next Horse year
- 2002
1990 Metal Horse: Third Own Sign Year in 2026
2026 is a Horse year, which makes it the third own sign year (本命年) for people born in 1990, the year they turn 36. 1990 was a Metal Horse year; 2026 is a Fire Horse year, so the animal repeats while the element changes.
The 1990 year began on Jan 27, 1990 and ended on Feb 14, 1991. That means Valentine’s Day 1991 still fell in the Horse year: anyone born on or before Feb 14, 1991 is a Metal Horse.
Born in January or Early February 1990?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 1990 was on Saturday, Jan 27, 1990, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Jan 26, 1990 | Earth Snake | 己巳 |
| Jan 27, 1990 to Feb 14, 1991 | Metal Horse | 庚午 |
So someone born on Jan 26, 1990 is an Earth Snake, and someone born on Jan 27, 1990 is a Metal Horse. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is a Metal Horse?
A Metal Horse combines the Horse with the element of the birth year. 1990 ends in 0, which gives Metal. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Metal Horse years include 1930.
How Old Is a 1990 Horse, and When Is the Next Horse Year?
Someone born in 1990 turns 36 in 2026 and 37 in 2027. The last Horse year was 1978, and the next is 2002. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Horse years a 1990 Horse lives through:
- 1990Metal HorseBornThis page
- 2002 Chinese zodiacWater HorseTurns 12
- 2014 Chinese zodiacWood HorseTurns 24
- 2026 Chinese zodiacFire HorseTurns 36
1990 Horse Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Horse's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 1990 Horse in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Horse to the next two years, and how old a 1990 Horse will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Own Sign Year
Turns 36. Link to the Horse: Own sign year (本命年), Punishment (刑太岁).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Supported
Turns 37. Link to the Goat: Secret Friend (六合).
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 1990, and the other years of the decade.
- 1988 Chinese zodiacEarth DragonFeb 17, 1988 to Feb 5, 1989
- 1989 Chinese zodiacEarth SnakeFeb 6, 1989 to Jan 26, 1990
- 1990Metal HorseJan 27, 1990 to Feb 14, 1991
- 1991 Chinese zodiacMetal GoatFeb 15, 1991 to Feb 3, 1992
- 1992 Chinese zodiacWater MonkeyFeb 4, 1992 to Jan 22, 1993
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
19901991 Chinese zodiac1992 Chinese zodiac1993 Chinese zodiac1994 Chinese zodiac1995 Chinese zodiac1996 Chinese zodiac1997 Chinese zodiac1998 Chinese zodiac1999 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
1990 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 1990?
1990 is the Year of the Metal Horse. The Chinese year ran from Jan 27, 1990 to Feb 14, 1991.
What element is the 1990 Chinese zodiac?
Metal. A year's element follows its last digit: 0 gives Metal. The Horse's own fixed element is Fire, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 1990?
Lunar New Year 1990 fell on Saturday, Jan 27, 1990. Born from January 1 to Jan 26, 1990, you are an Earth Snake. From Jan 27, 1990, you are a Metal Horse.
How old is someone born in 1990?
In 2026 they turn 36, or are 35 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 37. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Horse year after 1990?
2002, the Year of the Water Horse, begins on Feb 12, 2002.