[c++] Find the smallest amongst 3 numbers in C++

Is there any way to make this function more elegant? I'm new to C++, I don't know if there is a more standardized way to do this. Can this be turned into a loop so the number of variables isn't restricted as with my code?

float smallest(int x, int y, int z) {

  int smallest = 99999;

  if (x < smallest)
    smallest=x;
  if (y < smallest)
    smallest=y;
  if(z < smallest)
    smallest=z;

  return smallest;
}