Centaur Centaurs are mutated creatures . They are a result of infection by the Forced Evolutionary Virus gone horribly wrong . Background . West Coast . < section begin = " west " / > Centaurs encountered in New California and Mojave Wasteland were created by the Master . The creation process involved tossing a varied mix of human s , dog s , cat s and other types of animals into a Forced Evolutionary Virus ( FEV ) vat to be infected by the virus , and then seeing what mutant chimera emerged as the virus produced rapid and unpredictable mutations . The resulting centaurs can differ quite radically in physical appearance from one another . However , all known centaurs are somewhat humanoid in appearance . < section end = " west " / > Capital Wasteland . Like their western counterparts , the Capital Wasteland centaurs were created by infection with the FEV along with the super mutants . Their birthplace , like the super mutants , is Vault 87 . Variations . Centaurs of all known varieties are not harmed by radiation , but seem drawn to it , as they are often found in heavily irradiated environments . Two - headed centaur . Physically , these centaurs are around the size of a bear , with a large , misshapen torso and six humanoid arms that serve as legs . A cluster of wriggling fleshy tentacles bloom out from their underside , scrabbling at the ground around them . Branching from their front halves are a pair of long , thick necks , with a canine head on the right and a humanoid one on the left . The canine head has a thick metal collar around its neck , adorned with spikes , not unlike an ordinary dog collar . The two heads are seemingly aware that they are separate creatures , as the dog head can be seen trying to gnaw on the humanoid head . So far , the two - headed centaurs have only been encountered on the West Coast , in New California . One - headed centaur . This type of centaur retains the hands , arms and only the human - like head of its two - headed " cousins . " Unlike the two - headed version , however , it has three long , tentacle - like tongues coming out of its mouth instead of feelers on its back , and uses a ranged attack : a high - arcing , slow - moving saliva projectile that can carry lethal doses of radiation and is fairly accurate , even at long range . It is capable of igniting lingering gas vapors as well . In close quarters , it utilizes a long , three - pronged tongue to whip and slash at any intruders . This kind of centaur can be encountered both in the West and the East of the former United States . Evolved centaur . These centaurs are a bigger and stronger variant of centaur . Having been exposed to much more radiation than regular centaurs , they have significantly more muscle mass as well as thick clusters of tumors growing from their backs . Giant evolved centaur . An even bigger variety of the evolved centaur , the giant evolved centaur is the largest and most dangerous variation of centaur to be discovered to date . One is located in The Devil ' s Throat . Behind the scenes . In Greek mythology , were creatures that were typically half - human , half - horse . The human part would end at the bottom of the torso , where the hindquarters of a horse would begin .