Walter Farley was an American published author, best known for his horse stories, particularly The Black Stallion series of books. His love for horses began at a young age, while growing up in Syracuse, New York, and continued as he moved to New York City. Farley never owned a horse himself, but he gained extensive experience with them through his uncle, a professional horseman. Walter Farley began writing his first book, The Black Stallion, as a high school student and completed it while studying at Columbia University. It was published when he was 26, and the success of the book allowed him to travel extensively.
Farley's travels took him to Mexico, Hawaii, the South Seas, South America, the Caribbean Islands, Europe, and other parts of the world. After the publication of The Black Stallion in 1941, the author received numerous letters from children, urging him to write more about Alec Ramsey and the Black. However, World War II interrupted his writing, and Farley served in the US Army for five years. During his service, he worked for Yank, the army weekly magazine, and received training in the Fourth Armored Division. After the war, Farley resumed writing about Alec and the Black with The Black Stallion Returns, followed by Son of the Black Stallion and The Island Stallion.
Farley's readers responded enthusiastically to his books, and he wrote many more stories about the two stallions and other horses. His titles reached a total of 34, and the 21 Black Stallion and Island Stallion stories are still in print today. Farley's readers have always been passionate about his books, and he received thousands of letters and emails every year. In 1949, the first Black Stallion Club was founded in Kentucky, and the button designed by Farley for the club was in constant demand. The Black Stallion books were so popular that they made the New York Times annual list of best-selling children's books. Farley's books have been published in more than 20 countries, and he remained a keen spectator of the racing scene throughout his life. He enjoyed hobnobbing with horse trainers and other professional horsemen, and his books are full of authentic details of raising and training horses. Farley and his wife, Rosemary, had four children, whom they raised on a farm in Pennsylvania and in a beach house in Florida.