La Société des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux (English: "The Society of 40 Men and 8 Horses"), commonly known as the Forty and Eight, is a patriotic organization of U.S. veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

It was founded in March 1920 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as an honor society of The American Legion, by World War I veteran, and Legionnaire, Joseph William Breen.

The organization derives its name from the French Army box cars used to transport American soldiers to the western front during World War I.

[3] Membership is by invitation only and open to honorably discharged veterans and active members of the Armed Forces of the United States per a 2008 change to Article IV of the national constitution.

The Forty and Eight's first program was designed to provide care and scholarships for the children of servicemen not returning home after World War I.

The Forty and Eight also helps to finance sports programs for children who are disadvantaged in some way, such as through mental or physical challenges or lack of money.

As one of their ongoing programs, the Forty and Eight offers continuing support of the publication, "The Carville Star," which disseminates the information regarding the research into Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) taking place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

This patient-published publication carries the research works of not only this center, but those of the rest of the world, and is translated into and forwarded to 128 countries in addition to a circulation of more than 60,000 in the United States.

Anyone wishing to enter The Forty and Eight must be wrecked, after which the initiate has earned the right to be referred to as a voyageur militair and a full member.