Which type of animal is considered the smartest in the story?

In "Animal Farm," pigs are portrayed as the smartest animals on the farm. This intelligence is depicted through their ability to learn, strategize, and manipulate situations to their advantage. The pigs, particularly Napoleon and Snowball, are shown to have the capacity to read and write, which allows them to take control of the farm's governance and establish the rules that other animals must follow. Their intelligence is a crucial factor in their rise to power, as they use it to justify their authority and exploit the other animals' naivety. The pigs' cleverness contrasts sharply with the more straightforward and less intellectual animals, such as sheep and horses, who often simply follow along without questioning the pigs' decisions. This hierarchy of intelligence is pivotal to the themes of power and oppression presented in the novel.