How to Get a Zombie Horse in Minecraft (Zombie Horsemen)

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Zombie horses spawn naturally as zombie horsemen - a zombie with an iron spear riding one - on grass in plains, sunflower plains, savannas, savanna plateaus, windswept savannas and snowy plains, at night or during thunderstorms. Kill the zombie rider (careful, it charges with the spear), then tame the horse by riding it until it stops bucking. Add a saddle and it is yours - it breathes underwater and floats, but it still burns in sunlight unless it wears horse armor.

What you need

A weapon and shield to deal with the spear-wielding zombie rider
A saddle (craft it: 3 leather and 1 iron ingot, with the leather on the top middle and the two bottom corners and the iron ingot in the bottom middle)
Optional: horse armor for the armor slot

Step by step

Zombie horses spawn naturally as zombie horsemen - a zombie wielding an iron spear riding the horse - on grass blocks in plains, sunflower plains, savanna, savanna plateau, windswept savanna and snowy plains biomes (Ice Spikes too, in Bedrock).
Like zombies, horsemen spawn at light level 0 in Java and below light level 7 in Bedrock, so they are mostly found on the surface at night. They burn in daylight, so hunt them in the dark.
Fight smart: the rider uses the spear's charge attack while running at you - block with a shield, sidestep the charge, and kill the zombie first. The horse itself is not hostile on its own.
Bonus loot: the zombie may drop its iron spear when killed.
Tame it: right-click the zombie horse to mount, and keep re-mounting when it bucks you off until hearts appear - exactly like a normal horse.
Equip it: tamed zombie horses have a saddle slot and a horse armor slot. Open the inventory while riding, or sneak and use it, to reach them. Shears remove equipment.
Perks: zombie horses breathe underwater, float instead of sinking, slowly regenerate health, take half the normal fall damage and can fall 6 blocks before taking any. Like other undead they burn in direct sunlight, but horse armor protects them.
Persistence: a zombie horse is a monster and can despawn - but the moment any player interacts with it, it becomes persistent forever.
Watch for jockeys (Bedrock only): 15% of nearby baby zombies, husks or drowned may ride an untamed adult zombie horse. Clear them before taming.
Limits: zombie horses cannot be bred and never spawn as babies naturally (spawn eggs give 20% babies). Each horseman brings one horse, so guard it well.

Java vs Bedrock

Java: horsemen spawn at light level 0, and zombie horses also spawn on Peaceful, unlike other monsters. Bedrock: they spawn below light level 7, Ice Spikes is a possible biome, and baby zombies, husks and drowned can ride an untamed horse as jockeys.

Versions: Zombie horseman spawning is current on Java and Bedrock as of 26.x.

Frequently asked questions

Where do zombie horses spawn in Minecraft?

Naturally as zombie horsemen (a zombie with an iron spear riding one) on grass in plains, sunflower plains, savannas, savanna plateaus, windswept savannas and snowy plains, at night or during thunderstorms, in the dark (light level 0 in Java, below 7 in Bedrock).

How do you tame a zombie horse?

Kill the zombie rider first, then mount the horse repeatedly until it stops bucking and hearts appear - the same process as taming a normal horse. Add a saddle to control it.

Do tamed zombie horses burn in sunlight?

Yes. Zombie horses burn in direct sunlight like other undead, even when tamed, but horse armor protects them. They also breathe underwater, float on water, slowly regenerate health and take half the normal fall damage.