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The fountain is one of the many pieces of furniture in Villa Borghese that were created as part of the vast programme of renovation of the park commissioned by Prince Marcantonio IV from 1766 onwards.
Designed towards the end of the century by the painter Cristoforo Unterperger and made by the sculptor Vincenzo Pacetti, the fountain was placed in the place of the Mascherone or Vela fountain, which was destroyed together with the internal walls that delimited the three enclosures into which the park was divided. It seems that Pacetti had received a gift from Prince Borghese of an antique cameo to copy, or at least to keep in mind when designing the fountain. The execution of the individual parts was divided between various artists; in particular, the horses are by Luigi Salimei, except for the tails and wings, sculpted by Antonio Isopi, who also made the central support. The basin is by Giovanni Antonio Bertè.