"Horses" was released to widespread acclaim from music critics. The record experienced modest commercial success, managing a top 50 placing on the American "Billboard" 200 albums chart. "Horses" has since been widely recognized as a seminal recording in the history of punk rock, as well as one of the greatest and most influential albums in all of popular music. The album has been credited as a key influence on numerous artists, including rock acts such as R.E.M., the Smiths, PJ Harvey, and Hole.