Although it is the oldest of the Wiltshire white horses, the origin of the Westbury White Horse is obscure. It is often claimed to commemorate King Alfred's victory at the Battle of Ethandun in 878, and while this is not impossible, there is no trace of such a legend before the second half of the 18th century. Since the late 19th century historians have mostly located the battle of Ethandun at Edington in Wiltshire, some away from the white horse, but this theory is still open to debate.