The regiment was raised at Bareilly as the 7th Irregular Cavalry in 1841 as a result of the First Anglo-Afghan War.

The pre-Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bengal Light Cavalry regiments had been lost to mutiny or disbandment, leaving the number free.

In 1914 the 5th Cavalry was part of the 4th (Rawalpindi) Brigade until October 1916 when they transferred to the 1st (Peshawar) Division for service on the North West Frontier of India.

In 1921, the regiment was amalgamated with the 8th Lancers to form the 3rd Cavalry.

5th Cavalry This article about a specific Indian military unit is a stub.