diff --git a/Libraries/Lists/VirtualizedList.js b/Libraries/Lists/VirtualizedList.js
index 545a04a4127..3b53a2a883a 100644
--- a/Libraries/Lists/VirtualizedList.js
+++ b/Libraries/Lists/VirtualizedList.js
@@ -304,7 +304,6 @@ type Props = {|
 |};
 
 type DefaultProps = {|
-  horizontal: boolean,
   initialNumToRender: number,
   keyExtractor: (item: Item, index: number) => string,
   maxToRenderPerBatch: number,
@@ -322,6 +321,10 @@ type State = {
   last: number,
 };
 
+function horizontalOrDefault(horizontal: ?boolean) {
+  return horizontal ?? false;
+}
+
 /**
  * Base implementation for the more convenient [`<FlatList>`](https://reactnative.dev/docs/flatlist.html)
  * and [`<SectionList>`](https://reactnative.dev/docs/sectionlist.html) components, which are also better
@@ -380,7 +383,9 @@ class VirtualizedList extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
     }
 
     this._scrollRef.scrollTo(
-      this.props.horizontal ? {x: offset, animated} : {y: offset, animated},
+      horizontalOrDefault(this.props.horizontal)
+        ? {x: offset, animated}
+        : {y: offset, animated},
     );
   }
 
@@ -502,7 +507,9 @@ class VirtualizedList extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
     }
 
     this._scrollRef.scrollTo(
-      this.props.horizontal ? {x: offset, animated} : {y: offset, animated},
+      horizontalOrDefault(this.props.horizontal)
+        ? {x: offset, animated}
+        : {y: offset, animated},
     );
   }
 
@@ -560,7 +567,6 @@ class VirtualizedList extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
   }
 
   static defaultProps: DefaultProps = {
-    horizontal: false,
     initialNumToRender: 10,
     keyExtractor: (item: Item, index: number) => {
       if (item.key != null) {
@@ -594,7 +600,7 @@ class VirtualizedList extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
     return {
       listKey: this._getListKey(),
       cellKey: this._getCellKey(),
-      horizontal: !!this.props.horizontal,
+      horizontal: horizontalOrDefault(this.props.horizontal),
       parent: this.context?.debugInfo,
     };
   }
@@ -839,7 +845,8 @@ class VirtualizedList extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
   _isNestedWithSameOrientation(): boolean {
     const nestedContext = this.context;
     return !!(
-      nestedContext && !!nestedContext.horizontal === !!this.props.horizontal
+      nestedContext &&
+      !!nestedContext.horizontal === horizontalOrDefault(this.props.horizontal)
     );
   }
 
@@ -864,7 +871,7 @@ class VirtualizedList extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
     const {data, horizontal} = this.props;
     const isVirtualizationDisabled = this._isVirtualizationDisabled();
     const inversionStyle = this.props.inverted
-      ? this.props.horizontal
+      ? horizontalOrDefault(this.props.horizontal)
         ? styles.horizontallyInverted
         : styles.verticallyInverted
       : null;
@@ -1070,7 +1077,7 @@ class VirtualizedList extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
         value={{
           cellKey: null,
           getScrollMetrics: this._getScrollMetrics,
-          horizontal: this.props.horizontal,
+          horizontal: horizontalOrDefault(this.props.horizontal),
           getOutermostParentListRef: this._getOutermostParentListRef,
           getNestedChildState: this._getNestedChildState,
           registerAsNestedChild: this._registerAsNestedChild,
@@ -1096,7 +1103,8 @@ class VirtualizedList extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
           {scrollContext => {
             if (
               scrollContext != null &&
-              !scrollContext.horizontal === !this.props.horizontal &&
+              !scrollContext.horizontal ===
+                !horizontalOrDefault(this.props.horizontal) &&
               !this._hasWarned.nesting &&
               this.context == null
             ) {
@@ -1452,7 +1460,9 @@ class VirtualizedList extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
       ...
     }>,
   ): number {
-    return !this.props.horizontal ? metrics.height : metrics.width;
+    return !horizontalOrDefault(this.props.horizontal)
+      ? metrics.height
+      : metrics.width;
   }
 
   _selectOffset(
@@ -1462,7 +1472,7 @@ class VirtualizedList extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
       ...
     }>,
   ): number {
-    return !this.props.horizontal ? metrics.y : metrics.x;
+    return !horizontalOrDefault(this.props.horizontal) ? metrics.y : metrics.x;
   }
 
   _maybeCallOnEndReached() {
diff --git a/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/FlatList-test.js.snap b/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/FlatList-test.js.snap
index f16138c369e..471f89f48b1 100644
--- a/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/FlatList-test.js.snap
+++ b/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/FlatList-test.js.snap
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ exports[`FlatList renders all the bells and whistles 1`] = `
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
   getItemLayout={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -130,7 +129,6 @@ exports[`FlatList renders empty list 1`] = `
   data={Array []}
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -158,7 +156,6 @@ exports[`FlatList renders null list 1`] = `
 <RCTScrollView
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -199,7 +196,6 @@ exports[`FlatList renders simple list (multiple columns) 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -276,7 +272,6 @@ exports[`FlatList renders simple list 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -343,7 +338,6 @@ exports[`FlatList renders simple list using ListItemComponent (multiple columns)
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -420,7 +414,6 @@ exports[`FlatList renders simple list using ListItemComponent 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
diff --git a/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/SectionList-test.js.snap b/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/SectionList-test.js.snap
index 5413d47224f..e6f9a472452 100644
--- a/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/SectionList-test.js.snap
+++ b/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/SectionList-test.js.snap
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ exports[`SectionList rendering empty section headers is fine 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -82,7 +81,6 @@ exports[`SectionList renders a footer when there is no data 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -137,7 +135,6 @@ exports[`SectionList renders a footer when there is no data and no header 1`] =
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -223,7 +220,6 @@ exports[`SectionList renders all the bells and whistles 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={Infinity}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -415,7 +411,6 @@ exports[`SectionList renders empty list 1`] = `
   data={Array []}
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
diff --git a/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedList-test.js.snap b/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedList-test.js.snap
index f3a4bd9d061..70fd7f9d97b 100644
--- a/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedList-test.js.snap
+++ b/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedList-test.js.snap
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList forwards correct stickyHeaderIndices when all in initia
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
   getItemLayout={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -190,7 +189,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList forwards correct stickyHeaderIndices when partially in
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
   getItemLayout={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={5}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -276,7 +274,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList handles nested lists 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -439,7 +436,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList handles separators correctly 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -520,7 +516,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList handles separators correctly 2`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -601,7 +596,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList handles separators correctly 3`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -754,7 +748,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList keeps sticky headers realized after scrolled out of vie
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
   getItemLayout={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={1}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -947,7 +940,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList realizes sticky headers in viewport on batched render 1
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
   getItemLayout={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={1}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -1047,7 +1039,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList renders all the bells and whistles 1`] = `
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
   getItemLayout={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   invertStickyHeaders={true}
   inverted={true}
@@ -1230,7 +1221,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList renders empty list 1`] = `
   data={Array []}
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -1260,7 +1250,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList renders empty list with empty component 1`] = `
   data={Array []}
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -1306,7 +1295,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList renders list with empty component 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -1341,7 +1329,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList renders null list 1`] = `
 <RCTScrollView
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -1380,7 +1367,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList renders simple list 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -1445,7 +1431,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList renders simple list using ListItemComponent 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -1502,7 +1487,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList test getItem functionality where data is not an Array 1
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -1545,7 +1529,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedList warns if both renderItem or ListItemComponent are speci
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
diff --git a/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedSectionList-test.js.snap b/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedSectionList-test.js.snap
index 7a6a3371a22..abaaf1648d4 100644
--- a/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedSectionList-test.js.snap
+++ b/Libraries/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedSectionList-test.js.snap
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedSectionList handles nested lists 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -234,7 +233,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedSectionList handles separators correctly 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -373,7 +371,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedSectionList handles separators correctly 2`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -512,7 +509,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedSectionList handles separators correctly 3`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -662,7 +658,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedSectionList renders all the bells and whistles 1`] = `
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
   getItemLayout={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   invertStickyHeaders={true}
   inverted={true}
@@ -885,7 +880,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedSectionList renders empty list 1`] = `
   data={Array []}
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -915,7 +909,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedSectionList renders empty list with empty component 1`] = `
   data={Array []}
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -966,7 +959,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedSectionList renders list with empty component 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
@@ -1027,7 +1019,6 @@ exports[`VirtualizedSectionList renders simple list 1`] = `
   }
   getItem={[Function]}
   getItemCount={[Function]}
-  horizontal={false}
   initialNumToRender={10}
   keyExtractor={[Function]}
   maxToRenderPerBatch={10}