옛날 대홍수가 나서 바닷물이 밀려 올라와 철마면 일대가 물에 잠기자 동해의 용왕이 용굴에 사는 용마에게 명을 내려 홍수를 다스리게 하였다고 한다. 

                                                  용마는 홍수를 물리치고 나자 물이 없어 용궁으로 환궁하지 못해 햇볕에 말라 점차 굳어져 쇠 말이 되었다고 전한다. 이 쇠 말이 남아 있던 산이라 하여 

                                                                                       쇠말산으로 불리었고 한자명으로 철마산이 되었다고 전한다



                                                                                                      https://blog.daum.net/lkc226/8874345