The occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events is the result of advanced atherosclerosis and plaque rupture. The research on the formation mechanism and treatment of vulnerable plaque has been on focus. The basic research and even the hot spot of studying vulnerable plaque is how to produce a progressive plaque like human beings’. At present, many different vulnerable plaque models have been produced in a variety of animals. In this review, the animal models of vulnerable plaque will be summarized and discussed. And this review may provide new ideas for the production of the vulnerable plaque model.