Steel Ball Run is a cross-country horse race set in an alternate version of the United States during the late 18th century. It follows the journey of a jockey named Johnny Joestar and a former executioner Gyro Zeppeli as they compete in the race. The race serves as a backdrop for a larger plot involving a mysterious object known as the Holy Corpse, which is said to have miraculous powers. Johnny and Gyro's quest to find and protect the Holy Corpse becomes intertwined with the fate of the entire country and the forces that seek to control it.