Neutral exists separately from ground only because if there is some residual resistance in the line, there will be voltage on the neutral.
So you have a separate ground that normally sees no voltage at all.
You are correct, the neutral does not go through the breaker. It is usually wired inside the breaker panel though.
Some localities want the neutral and ground wired separately (to separate bus bars), with a single point connecting them, but most don't care and the neutral and ground are attached to the exact same place inside the breaker panel.
Electrically, the neutral and ground are at the same potential, assuming magic wires with zero resistance, but in the real world the wire does have resistance, especially if it was poorly installed, so they are not always at the same potential. There could also be capacitance in the line.
So you have a separate ground that normally sees no voltage at all.
You are correct, the neutral does not go through the breaker. It is usually wired inside the breaker panel though.
Some localities want the neutral and ground wired separately (to separate bus bars), with a single point connecting them, but most don't care and the neutral and ground are attached to the exact same place inside the breaker panel.
Electrically, the neutral and ground are at the same potential, assuming magic wires with zero resistance, but in the real world the wire does have resistance, especially if it was poorly installed, so they are not always at the same potential. There could also be capacitance in the line.