During the 2001 film adaptation of the Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson, there is an extended edition scene in which the fellowship is approaching the entrance to the Mines of Moria. Gandalf cannot figure out the password, Merry and Pippin grow bored and begin to throw rocks at the lake (which later awakes the Watcher in the Water, the big octopus-like creature) and Aragorn, being kind natured and fond of horses, makes Samwise release the steed that has been with them since the Prancing Pony. He tells Sam, "The mines are no place for a pony, even one so brave as Bill." But what is it about Bill that makes him so brave?
According to the Rohirrim, the horse lords of Rohan, all horses are brave and noble, bringing luck to their riders and protecting their people with their loyalty and their reliability. This can be seen through many examples of Peter Jackson’s 2001- 2003 adaptations of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, from Shadowfax, the Lord of all horses, to Brego, the horse who wakes Aragorn up after his fall in the river and carries him to Helm’s Deep. But there is one horse in particular in Peter Jackson’s adaptations who doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.
Bill the pony, so named after his first owner Bill Ferney, comes to the possession of Frodo and Sam in their dire need to escape the Prancing Pony after the Nazgul attack. When they buy him from his owner for twelve silver pieces, Aragorn remarks that "The poor beast is probably at death’s door, but there does not seem any choice." Despite his cruel treatment at the hands of his previous owner, and the fact that the company at first pay more for him than he is worth, he soon proves to be a brave and loyal steed like many of the other horses featured throughout the trilogy.
There are many different types of hobbits, some are more fond of food, some more fond of pipeweed, but Samwise in particular is known for being loving to all things that live and grow. He takes charge of Bill's care, "leading the pony, which was laden with as much of their baggage as they had a heart to give him." out of Bree, and Bill carries their supplies all the way to Weathertop. Here is where his true heroism begins as he helps to save Frodo’s life after he is stabbed by the Witch-King wielding Morgul Blade. When the hobbit is too wounded to walk, and is quickly passing through the realms of life into the shadowy state of a wraith, it is Bill the pony who carries him through the dark woodland where he is found and taken to the healing houses of Elrond in Rivendell by Glorfindel.
When he meets them in Rivendell, Bill the pony becomes very wise and learns a lot during his time, which makes him better equipped to aid the fellowship on their journey through the wildlands, all the way to Moria. He is brilliant, for the journey is perilous, and he is an easy and tempting target for the wargs that they can hear prowling in the night. But he is also loyal, and he refuses to leave the side of the hobbits who took him from his abusive past owner and gave him a better future.
At every step, Bill shoulders the burden and helps the fellowship achieve their momentous task. When they reach the mines of Moria, and it is said that he would not cope well in the long dark of the underground tunnels, Samwise is distressed. He pleads with the others, saying ‘You can’t leave poor old Bill alone in this forsaken place!’ as he is the first to recognize all that the remarkable pony has done for them, and feels it would be a betrayal to such an honorable creature to let him go out into the wild where anything might happen.
But Gandalf, knowing how much the wise horse has learned during his adventures with the fellowship, assures Samwise that Bill will be safe. Gandalf gives him the knowledge of the way home, whispering to him "Go with words of guard and guiding on you." In the film, this is the last viewers see of brave Bill, but in the books, his story continues.
When the fellowship have completed their task and destroyed the ring in the fires of Mount Doom where it was made, they set their eyes homeward. The four hobbits, passing back through Bree on their way to The Shire find that Bill has indeed made his way home, and has been resting in the stables. They leave for home and "Bill the pony was with them, and as before he had a great deal of baggage, but he trotted along beside Sam and seemed well content." Although they discover that some bad things have happened in The Shire whilst they were away, they manage to puts things to rights again.
Many Lord of the Rings fans believe that after he has shown great strength of character, Bill deserves a long and happy life. Which is exactly what he gets. After Frodo leaves Middle-earth to sail for the Undying Lands, he gifts Bag End to Samwise, where he lives with his wife Rosie and their daughters. Bill the pony lives out the rest of his days in the garden at Bag End, grazing to his heart’s content under the shade of the old oak tree.