Horse of a Different Color: Difference between revisions

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[[File:300px-Cloudchocobo.jpg|link=Final Fantasy VII|frame|[[Final Fantasy|Giant yellow birds]] are the mount of choice for the spiky-haired RPG hero on the go.]]

{{quote|''"[[Buffy-Speak|Good bird-horse-thingy]]."''|'''Sokka''', ''[[~~Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animation)|~~Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''}}

{{quote|''"[[Buffy-Speak|Good bird-horse-thingy]]."''|'''Sokka''', ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''}}

Evolution being what it is, alien worlds (or Earth time periods far removed from the present day) are bound to have different forms of animal life than our world. The people there, however, are usually [[Human Aliens|just like us]], or [[Rubber Forehead Aliens|close]], and would therefore develop and breed different livestock to fill the same needs.

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For ''maximum'' [[Speculative Fiction]] cred, try having the mount not even being [[Mechanical Horse|made of flesh and blood]]. In video games, these often become a [[Powerup Mount]].

Named for a pun in ''[[The Wizard of Oz (~~Film~~)|The Wizard of Oz]]'', although that was an actual horse that, as the name suggests, kept changing color randomly.

Named for a pun in ''[[The Wizard of Oz (film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'', although that was an actual horse that, as the name suggests, kept changing color randomly.

Compare [[Call a Rabbit A Smeerp]], when the animal actually is, for all intents and purposes, identical to a real-world animal. [[Kangaroo Pouch Ride]] is a subtrope.

Compare [[Call a Rabbit a Smeerp]], when the animal actually is, for all intents and purposes, identical to a real-world animal. [[Kangaroo Pouch Ride]] is a subtrope.

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== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

* Horseclaws are giant flightless birds used as rides in ''[[Nausicaa of the Valley ~~of The Wind (Manga)|Nausicaa~~ of the ~~Valley of The~~ Wind]]'' (and inspired the above-mentioned chocobos).

* Horseclaws are giant flightless birds used as rides in ''[[Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind]]'' (and inspired the above-mentioned chocobos).

** Nausicaa also features another type of unusual mount, referred to as Warbeasts, which are something like giant, shaggy dogs with cow horns & lizard-like feet.

* In ''[[~~Maze Megaburst Space (Anime)|~~Maze Megaburst Space]]'', a two-legged brown dinosaur is the preferred cavalry mount.

* In ''[[Maze Megaburst Space]]'', a two-legged brown dinosaur is the preferred cavalry mount.

* In ''[[Samurai 7 ~~(Anime)~~|Samurai Seven]]'', some people ride around on giant turtle-like creatures. With shells.

* In ''[[Samurai 7|Samurai Seven]]'', some people ride around on giant turtle-like creatures. With shells.

* ''[[~~Trigun (Anime)|~~Trigun]]'' has the Tomas, weird cross-breeds between ostriches and dinosaurs.

* ''[[Trigun]]'' has the Tomas, weird cross-breeds between ostriches and dinosaurs.

* ''[[~~Last Exile (Anime)|~~Last Exile]]'' has some very chocobo-esque flightless birds. Although they were never used as mounts they replaced horses as the animal of choice for racing.

* ''[[Last Exile]]'' has some very chocobo-esque flightless birds. Although they were never used as mounts they replaced horses as the animal of choice for racing.

* What look like giant ducklings are used as mounts in ''[[~~One Piece (Manga)|~~One Piece]]'s'' Kingdom of Alabasta.

* What look like giant ducklings are used as mounts in ''[[One Piece]]'s'' Kingdom of Alabasta.

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== [[Literature]] ==

* Flinx in ''[[Alan Dean Foster|For Love Of Mother-Not]]'' rides a stupava riding bird through the soggy forests of Moth, where its partially webbed feet come in handy for the muddy terrain.

* The [[~~Gaunts~~ Ghosts ~~(Literature)~~|Gaunt's Ghosts novels]] had birds called Struthids used as cavalry on one of the planets; the general description made them look like the bastard child of cassowaries.

* The [[Gaunt's Ghosts|Gaunt's Ghosts novels]] had birds called Struthids used as cavalry on one of the planets; the general description made them look like the bastard child of cassowaries.

* Horses ''do'' exist in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s [[~~Discworld (Literature)|~~Discworld]], so when some Mad Max-style raiders trying to get at Mad the dwarf's water supplies show up in The Last Continent riding and/or being pulled by a variety of things that are very notably not horses (including an emu, as described by someone who has never heard of such a thing), it's mostly to illustrate how utterly insane Fourecks is.

* Horses ''do'' exist in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s [[Discworld]], so when some Mad Max-style raiders trying to get at Mad the dwarf's water supplies show up in The Last Continent riding and/or being pulled by a variety of things that are very notably not horses (including an emu, as described by someone who has never heard of such a thing), it's mostly to illustrate how utterly insane Fourecks is.

* The Rudewood's hotchi in [[China Mieville]]'s ''[[~~Iron Council (Literature)|~~Iron Council]]'' ride oversized chickens. They also use these oversized, highly aggressive roosters in gladitorial cockfights.

* The Rudewood's hotchi in [[China Mieville]]'s ''[[Iron Council]]'' ride oversized chickens. They also use these oversized, highly aggressive roosters in gladitorial cockfights.

** Within the city of New Crobuzon itself, people use Remade animals as beasts of burden, such as horses that have had most of their bodies [[Automaton Horse|replaced with machinery]], and minotaur-like beasts.

* The Seanchan of ''[[~~The Wheel of Time (Literature)|~~The Wheel of Time]]'' series have, among other things (see other sections), ''corlm'', creatures like large ostriches with brown fur instead of feathers, although these are used mainly for hunting rather than as mounts.

* The Seanchan of ''[[The Wheel of Time]]'' series have, among other things (see other sections), ''corlm'', creatures like large ostriches with brown fur instead of feathers, although these are used mainly for hunting rather than as mounts.

* In the Sugar Rain series, characters ride 'horses'. This functions to emphasize that English is really a 'translation' when a rider settles in for the night he gives the 'horse' a feedbag of meat.

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* [[Warhammer Fantasy]] Dark Elves and Lizardmen ride theropod-like creatures known as Cold Ones.

* Halflings in ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' [[Eberron]] campaign setting ride two kinds of bipedal dinosaurs, called fastieths and clawfoots. <ref> Fastieths are basically ornithomimids. Clawfoots are ''velociraptors''.</ref>

* "Axebeaks" (''Phorusrhacos'', more or less) have featured in several editions of ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]''. (''[[Pathfinder]]'' seems to have shrugged and openly presented them essentially as predatory chocobos.) White Wolf's ''Scarred Lands'' setting had "tent birds," a desert-dwelling variant with supernaturally heat-resistant feathers that could use its huge—albeit still flightless—wings [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|to shelter itself and its hatchlings (or its rider)]].

* "Axebeaks" (''Phorusrhacos'', more or less) have featured in several editions of ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]''. (''[[Pathfinder]]'' seems to have shrugged and openly presented them essentially as predatory chocobos.) White Wolf's ''Scarred Lands'' setting had "tent birds," a desert-dwelling variant with supernaturally heat-resistant feathers that could use its huge—albeit still flightless—wings [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|to shelter itself and its hatchlings (or its rider)]].

== Video Games ==

* The various world-settings in the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series use a type of giant bird called a Chocobo as a riding mount. Some variations of them can fly, though.

* [[Super Mario Bros|Yoshi]], to the point of being referred to as such (though in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg8mDRAngZ0 a rather derogatory fashion]) by the popular [[Let's Play|Lets Player]], [[Raocow]].

* [[Super Mario Bros.|Yoshi]], to the point of being referred to as such (though in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg8mDRAngZ0 a rather derogatory fashion]) by the popular [[Let's Play|Lets Player]], [[Raocow]].

* Early in ''[[Rogue Galaxy]]'', the hero is seen riding a sort of skeletal mount called a Yago. Apparently they must have some meat on them because a sand worm eats one at the end of the first chapter.

* Strangely, the [[Pokémon]] Dodrio -- based off of ostriches -- can learn Fly in the games. The anime makes a clever justification when Falkner's Dodrio makes a leap that makes it look like it ''is'' flying, though the birds are usually ridden as land mounts when seen.

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== Web Comics ==

* ''[[~~The Adventures of Dr. McNinja (Webcomic)|~~The Adventures of Dr. McNinja]]'''s Yoshi the velociraptor.

* ''[[The Adventures of Dr. McNinja]]'''s Yoshi the velociraptor.

* Suss Birds in ''[[Harkovast]]'' fit this trope, as do the Bataks and Histoos.

* In ''[[Seekers (~~Webcomic~~)|Seekers]]'' the winglings ride chickens.

* In ''[[Seekers (webcomic)|Seekers]]'' the winglings ride chickens.

* ''[[The Water Phoenix King]]'' has saddle-broken zebras and "bicorns," which are exactly what you'd expect -- large ungulates with two straight horns on their heads. And a riding robot bug.

* In a [[Homage]] to the ''[[Mega Man (~~Video~~ ~~Game~~)|Mega Man]]'' arcade games, [[Recurring Boss|Shadow Man]] rides a frog in Bright Man's stage in ''[[Rock Man 4 Minus Infinity]]''.

* In a [[Homage]] to the ''[[Mega Man (video game)|Mega Man]]'' arcade games, [[Recurring Boss|Shadow Man]] rides a frog in Bright Man's stage in ''[[Rock Man 4 Minus Infinity]]''.

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== Western Animation ==

* Ostrich-Horses in ''[[~~Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animation)|~~Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' seem to be the transportation of choice in the Earth Kingdom.

* Ostrich-Horses in ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' seem to be the transportation of choice in the Earth Kingdom.

* The main characters in ''[[Highlander the Animated Series]]'' ride a kind of large bipedal animal in many episodes.

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== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

* Chiyo-chan in ''[[~~Azumanga Daioh (Manga)|~~Azumanga Daioh]]'' is so small, she can comfortably ride Mr. Tadakichi, a Great Pyrenees, to [[Tall, Dark and Bishoujo|Sakaki's]] envy.

* Chiyo-chan in ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'' is so small, she can comfortably ride Mr. Tadakichi, a Great Pyrenees, to [[Tall, Dark and Bishoujo|Sakaki's]] envy.

** Which was probably inspired by the novel and Japanese [[Anime]] series ''[[Meiken Jolie|Belle And Sebastian]]'' (which also happens to be the name of an indie band), where the latter, a small boy, would often ride on the back of the enormous Belle (also a Great Pyrenees), as they traversed the French and Spanish countryside in search of Sebastian's mother.

* While Akamaru the dog from ''[[~~Naruto (Anime)|~~Naruto]]'' is as small as most dogs before the time-skip, he grows to the size of a pony over the course of 2 and a half years. His owner, Kiba, uses him as a mount occasionally post-timeskip.

* While Akamaru the dog from ''[[Naruto]]'' is as small as most dogs before the time-skip, he grows to the size of a pony over the course of 2 and a half years. His owner, Kiba, uses him as a mount occasionally post-timeskip.

** And Kiba acts surprised when Naruto brings it up. "Really? I must not have noticed!"

** Other ninja dogs, including Kakashi's and Kuromaru (the one used by Kiba's mom), are capable of talking. And after the [[Time Skip]] Kuromaru is inexplicably [http://read.mangashare.com/Naruto/chapter-429/page007.html even larger than Akamaru].

* In the Magic World of ''[[~~Mahou Sensei Negima (Manga)|~~Mahou Sensei Negima]]'', the mount of choice appears to be dinosaur-like reptiles such as the one {{spoiler|[[Genki Girl|Makie]]}} rode while buying groceries for the bar she worked in.

* In the Magic World of ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'', the mount of choice appears to be dinosaur-like reptiles such as the one {{spoiler|[[Genki Girl|Makie]]}} rode while buying groceries for the bar she worked in.

* ''[[Nausicaa of the Valley ~~of The Wind (Manga)|Nausicaa~~ of the ~~Valley of The~~ Wind]]'' features "Warbeasts", which are something like giant, shaggy dogs with cow horns & lizard-like feet.

* ''[[Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind]]'' features "Warbeasts", which are something like giant, shaggy dogs with cow horns & lizard-like feet.

== Comic Books ==

* In the classic comic book series, ''[[Elf Quest]]'', the focus characters are the Wolfriders. They literally ride wolf companions like mounts, but their relationship goes deeper; there's a literal biological kinship due to the tribe's founder, Timmorn, who was the offspring of a wolf and a shapechanged [[Sufficiently Advanced Alien|high one]].

* In ''[[Judge Dredd]]'', [[Everything's Better ~~With~~ Dinosaurs|raptors]] are used to pull coaches in parts of the Cursed Earth.

* In ''[[Judge Dredd]]'', [[Everything's Better with Dinosaurs|raptors]] are used to pull coaches in parts of the Cursed Earth.

* In the ''[[The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck]]'' chapter "The Terror of the Transvaal", Scrooge [[Badass|rides a lion]] around the savanne. In a later one he also uses an emu (an Australian species of giant flightless bird related to the more well-known ostrich) for transportation, and even [[Kangaroo Pouch Ride|makes use of a kangaroo]] at one point.

== [[Film]] ==

* Sir Didymus, a bipedal fox, rides an English sheepdog in ''[[~~Labyrinth (Film)|~~Labyrinth]]''.

* Sir Didymus, a bipedal fox, rides an English sheepdog in ''[[Labyrinth]]''.

** This is also an example of [[Furry Confusion]], in that we have a normal, barking and growling canine serving as mount for an anthropomorphic canine (or possibly a squirrel or skunk) who can walk and talk, but also barks and growls along with his mount on occasion.

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* In [[S.M. Stirling]]'s and [[David Drake]]'s "[[The General]]" series of SF novels, the stranded inhabitants on the fallen colony of Bellevue ride genetically engineered giant dogs instead of horses. The native wildlife (Velociraptors) was hostile enough that horses weren't considered viable, but a 1200-pound Doberman the size of a draft horse was. Biological implausibilities were gleefully ignored although it's mentioned in passing that modifications were made to their spines to enable them to bear the weight of a rider.

* The 1987 Ardath Mayhar/Ron Fortier [[After the End]] collab ''Trail of the Seahawks'' also featured giant riding dogs (and giant mutant ''foxes'' that could be trained as mounts).

* Another series with dog mounts was Mike McQuay's painfully sucky duology of ''Pure Blood'' and ''Mother Earth''. But McQuay felt the need to call them "[[Call a Rabbit A Smeerp|woofers]]" for some reason.

* Another series with dog mounts was Mike McQuay's painfully sucky duology of ''Pure Blood'' and ''Mother Earth''. But McQuay felt the need to call them "[[Call a Rabbit a Smeerp|woofers]]" for some reason.

* [[CJ Cherryh]]'s ''Gate'' series of novels has creatures called nighthorses that could be easily mistaken for horses, except that they are telepathic foul-tempered carnivores whose group behavior is based on being pack hunters. In contrast to herbivorous horses' tendency to form groups for protection, nighthorses formed groups for attacks. The implications of this are shown in the stories in such a way that it becomes quite plain that nighthorses are not just differently colored horses.

* [[C. J. Cherryh]]'s ''Gate'' series of novels has creatures called nighthorses that could be easily mistaken for horses, except that they are telepathic foul-tempered carnivores whose group behavior is based on being pack hunters. In contrast to herbivorous horses' tendency to form groups for protection, nighthorses formed groups for attacks. The implications of this are shown in the stories in such a way that it becomes quite plain that nighthorses are not just differently colored horses.

* In [[Lloyd Alexander]]'s ''[[Chronicles of Prydain]]'', a bard character domesticates a giant lynx by playing his harp for it. The creature loves the music, and, at first, attempts to attack the other characters when he stops playing. Eventually, it takes a liking to everybody and becomes positively cuddly.

* [[More Information Than You Require|The mole-men]] have the hated dirt-puma, the giant alligator, and the pseudo-saur (which is actually a giant iguana).

* In [[~~Randall Garrett (Creator)|~~Randall Garrett]] and Vicki Heydron's ''Gandalara Cycle'', the only animals big enough to ride are [[Sapient Steed|presentient]] and [[Bond Creatures|telepathic]] pantherids called ''sha'um'' (which translates to "great cat").

* In [[Randall Garrett]] and Vicki Heydron's ''Gandalara Cycle'', the only animals big enough to ride are [[Sapient Steed|presentient]] and [[Bond Creatures|telepathic]] pantherids called ''sha'um'' (which translates to "great cat").

* The Seanchan of ''[[~~The Wheel of Time (Literature)|~~The Wheel of Time]]'' series are among the strangest examples: they have, among other things (see other sections), ''lopar'', large naked-bear-like creatures (with three eyes) used in lieu of horses in combat, and ''torm'', large cats with bronze scales (and three eyes and six-clawed paws), also used in combat but more difficult to control. There are also ''grolm'', three-eyed bear-frog hybrids used in combat but not as mounts, and ''S'redit'', which are probably just elephants, used to carry cargo.

* The Seanchan of ''[[The Wheel of Time]]'' series are among the strangest examples: they have, among other things (see other sections), ''lopar'', large naked-bear-like creatures (with three eyes) used in lieu of horses in combat, and ''torm'', large cats with bronze scales (and three eyes and six-clawed paws), also used in combat but more difficult to control. There are also ''grolm'', three-eyed bear-frog hybrids used in combat but not as mounts, and ''S'redit'', which are probably just elephants, used to carry cargo.

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* Common in ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'':

** Halflings in some ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' settings use large breeds of dog (Saint Bernards, mastiffs, and the like) as riding mounts.

** [[Eberron]] also gave us ''[[Everything's Worse ~~With~~ Bears|Bear Cavalry]]!!!''

** [[Eberron]] also gave us ''[[Everything's Worse with Bears|Bear Cavalry]]!!!''

** Taking a page from Tolkien, Goblins commonly partner with Worgs, a race of evil, intelligent wolves.

* Giant dogs (podogs) are common steeds in the ''[[~~Gamma World (Tabletop Game)|~~Gamma World]]'' setting, for those who can't afford freaky mutant horse/insect critters.

* Giant dogs (podogs) are common steeds in the ''[[Gamma World]]'' setting, for those who can't afford freaky mutant horse/insect critters.

* Like in Tolkien and ''D&D'', Hobgoblins in ''[[Warhammer]]'' ride wolves.

* Space Wolf [[Space Marines|Marines]] can ride huge wolves called Thunderwolves.

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== Video Games ==

* In ''[[The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'', the ''protagonist'' serves as a mount to his [[Ninja Butterfly]] while he is transformed into a [[Big Badass Wolf]].

* In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'', the ''protagonist'' serves as a mount to his [[Ninja Butterfly]] while he is transformed into a [[Big Badass Wolf]].

* ''[[Battle for Wesnoth]]'''s goblins use wolves as mounts.

* [[The Empire|Empire]] factions in ''[[Elemental War of Magic]]'' may use wargs (giant wolves, unsurprisingly) as mounts for their soldiers, assuming they can find any. Heroes of ''either'' faction may purchase and ride warg mounts. If you want your [[Badass]] leader to ride into battle on top of a white wolf, then why the hell not?

* Warg Knights in ''[[Castlevania ~~Symphony of the Night (Video Game)|Castlevania~~ Symphony of the Night]]'', found in the Inverted Castle. These Wargs are large enough to easily take a man's head off in a single bite.

* Warg Knights in ''[[Castlevania: Symphony of the Night]]'', found in the Inverted Castle. These Wargs are large enough to easily take a man's head off in a single bite.

* Goblins in [[Heroes of Might and Magic]] III use wolf cavalry.

== Web Comics ==

* ''[[Order of the Stick ~~(Webcomic)~~|Order of the Stick]]'': It has one paladin riding ''[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0432.html Argent]'', a kick-ass wolf, and another one riding ''[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0479.html Razor]'', a shark. The halfling riding dogs are spoofed in ''[[Order of the Stick]]'' when Belkar ends up [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0140.html riding a dachshund.]

* ''[[The Order of the Stick|Order of the Stick]]'': It has one paladin riding ''[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0432.html Argent]'', a kick-ass wolf, and another one riding ''[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0479.html Razor]'', a shark. The halfling riding dogs are spoofed in ''[[Order of the Stick]]'' when Belkar ends up [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0140.html riding a dachshund.]

** The Empire of Blood is implied to utilize dinosaurs as cavalry.

* Koark from ''[[Order of Tales]]'' rides Potok, who resembles a giant cross between a dog and an aardvark. (Hey, insectivores are carnivores!)

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== Western Animation ==

* And who could forget Battle Cat, huge, occasionally talking, green Tiger (or is it a Liger?) with a shiny red saddle for ''[[He-Man and ~~The~~ Masters of ~~The Universe (Animation)|He-Man and The Masters of The~~ Universe]]''. Likewise, Skeletor has Panthor, although he practically never rides him for some reason. In the 2002 show, he and his evil cohorts preferred to ride giant humongous griffins, instead.

* And who could forget Battle Cat, huge, occasionally talking, green Tiger (or is it a Liger?) with a shiny red saddle for ''[[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe]]''. Likewise, Skeletor has Panthor, although he practically never rides him for some reason. In the 2002 show, he and his evil cohorts preferred to ride giant humongous griffins, instead.

* ''[[Dino Riders]]'' is a show/toyline that's [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]].

* ''[[Dino Riders]]'' is a show/toyline that's [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]].

* [[The World of David the Gnome ~~(Animation)~~|David the gnome]] is known for traveling on his fox pal, Swift, as well as several other woodland animals like rabbits.

* [[The World of David the Gnome|David the gnome]] is known for traveling on his fox pal, Swift, as well as several other woodland animals like rabbits.

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== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

* ''[[~~Record of Lodoss War (Roleplay)|~~Record of Lodoss War]]'' features a group of knights who ride on Wyverns (Heraldic creatures similar to dragons).

* ''[[Record of Lodoss War]]'' features a group of knights who ride on Wyverns (Heraldic creatures similar to dragons).

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== [[Film]] ==

* In ''[[Avatar (~~Film~~)|Avatar]]'', the Na'vi have ''ikran'', called "banshees" by the humans. Subduing and [[Bond Creatures|mentally linking]] to an ''ikran'' is a [[Rite of Passage]] for young Na'vi.

* In ''[[Avatar (film)|Avatar]]'', the Na'vi have ''ikran'', called "banshees" by the humans. Subduing and [[Bond Creatures|mentally linking]] to an ''ikran'' is a [[Rite of Passage]] for young Na'vi.

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* The Skybax Riders of ''[[Dinotopia]]'', who train and fly on huge Pterosaurs, rest very proudly in the realm of the [[Rule of Cool]].

* ''[[Inheritance Trilogy]]''

* Dragon riders are fairly widespread in fiction, to the point of being savagely parodied in Terry Pratchett's 1983 ''[[Discworld ~~(Literature)~~/The Colour of Magic|The Colour of Magic]]''

* Dragon riders are fairly widespread in fiction, to the point of being savagely parodied in Terry Pratchett's 1983 ''[[Discworld/The Colour of Magic|The Colour of Magic]]''

** Speaking of [[~~Discworld (Literature)|~~Discworld]], herons and buzzards qualify as "giant flying steeds" if you're a gnome.

** Speaking of [[Discworld]], herons and buzzards qualify as "giant flying steeds" if you're a gnome.

** And one of the Nac Mac Feegle has a hawk as his steed of choice.

* The tarns (large flying birds used as steeds) of John Norman's ''[[Gor]]'' novels.

* In [[~~JRR~~ ~~Tolkien~~ ~~(Creator)~~|JRR Tolkien]]'s Middle-earth stories (''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', etc.), Sauron's Ringwraiths ride the wyvern-like flying 'fell beasts'.

* In [[J. R. R. Tolkien|JRR Tolkien]]'s Middle-earth stories (''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', etc.), Sauron's Ringwraiths ride the wyvern-like flying 'fell beasts'.

* In ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', giant eagles have been known to give people rides. Notable example, Gandalf's escape from the tower of Orthanc.

* ''[[Harry Potter (~~Literature~~)|Harry Potter]]'': There are a number of different breeds of winged horses (based in part on the legend of Pegasus and Bellerophon), according to ''[[Word of God|Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them]]''. Hogwarts employs thestrals, probably the ''least'' horse-like breed.

* ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'': There are a number of different breeds of winged horses (based in part on the legend of Pegasus and Bellerophon), according to ''[[Word of God|Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them]]''. Hogwarts employs thestrals, probably the ''least'' horse-like breed.

** Don't forget hippogriffs.

* In one of [[The Munchausen|Baron Munchausen's]] tall tales, the Baron tames and rides a roc.

* In the [[Hawkmoon]] trilogy by [[Michael Moorcock]] (also known as the History of the Runestaff), there are flamethrower-wielding warriors who ride ''giant flamingos''.

* The Seanchan in ''[[~~The Wheel of Time (Literature)|~~The Wheel of Time]]'' series have, among other things (see other sections), ''raken'' and ''to'raken'', large bird-like creatures used mainly for scouting and surprise attacks.

* The Seanchan in ''[[The Wheel of Time]]'' series have, among other things (see other sections), ''raken'' and ''to'raken'', large bird-like creatures used mainly for scouting and surprise attacks.

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* A few Flying-type [[Pokémon]] are Dragons...or at least look like one in the case of Charizard (not to mention several final form Flyers are quite big). Parodied in the anime when Ash tries to use his own Charizard as a proper mount for the first time and fails horribly. Justified in the fact that Ash's Charizard is actually much smaller than a regular Charizard apparently should be, and took a while to learn how to do such things. The next time they try it in the third movie, Charizard is able to maneuver around deadly spikes with Ash on his back with apparently no negative repercussions.

* ''[[Battle for Wesnoth]]'''s Dwarves use Gryphons as mounts.

* The Loftwings of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword ~~(Video Game)~~|The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword]]''. Link's is special because of its [[Law of Chromatic Superiority|rare red coloration]].

* The Loftwings of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword]]''. Link's is special because of its [[Law of Chromatic Superiority|rare red coloration]].

* Balkoth, leader of the Death Faction in ''Lords of Magic'', rides a giant bat.

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== Western Animation ==

* ''[[The Pirates of Dark Water]]'' was set on a world without wide-open spaces of dry land. Flying critters called Dagrons (small dragons, really) were the ride of choice. [[Human Resources|Turns out they had a secret]].

* Like many other worlds, in ancient times Dragons were used as mounts in the ''[[~~Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animation)|~~Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' world, before being hunted to near extinction. The Air Bison of the air-nomads are in a similar state; giant, intelligent six legged oxen with beaver tails that could fly, now with only one member of their species left alive.

* Like many other worlds, in ancient times Dragons were used as mounts in the ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' world, before being hunted to near extinction. The Air Bison of the air-nomads are in a similar state; giant, intelligent six legged oxen with beaver tails that could fly, now with only one member of their species left alive.

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== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

* In ''[[~~Princess Mononoke (Anime)|~~Princess Mononoke]]'', the hero of the story rides what is referred to as a "red elk," but looks more like a (slightly modified) siberian ibex. Not only can the beast comfortably carry a rider, but is so strong that he can do that kind of animal's graceful leaping so burdened.

* In ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'', the hero of the story rides what is referred to as a "red elk," but looks more like a (slightly modified) siberian ibex. Not only can the beast comfortably carry a rider, but is so strong that he can do that kind of animal's graceful leaping so burdened.

** Ashitaka calls his mount "Yakkul," and it is entirely fictional. Indeed, it goes as far back as the short manga ''Shuna's Journey'', Hayao Miyazaki's first written story, where the entire species is called "yakkul."

* ''[[Inuyasha]]'': Sesshoumaru's preferred mount is something that can only be described as a two-headed [[Our Dragons Are Different|dragon]]-horse in what might have been inspired by certain types of [http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRdojZQ9gWjX1GTzFiLna6BvaLHiZ1vls0QNOo3h0mMMMxCztimkw kirin imagery].

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== Collectible Card Games ==

* ''[[Magic ~~the~~ Gathering]] has all sorts:

* ''[[Magic: The Gathering]] has all sorts:

** [http://magiccards.info/cs/en/101.html Dinosaurs]

** [http://magiccards.info/shm/en/20.html Deer-like "cervins"]

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== [[Film]] ==

* The [[Avatar (~~Film~~)|Na'vi]] also ride ''fa'li'', or "direhorses", six-legged, nectar-drinking horse-things.

* The [[Avatar (film)|Na'vi]] also ride ''fa'li'', or "direhorses", six-legged, nectar-drinking horse-things.

* ''[[Star Wars]]'' had several; Tauntauns on Hoth, Dewbacks and Banthas on Tatooine, <s>[[Darths and Droids ~~(Webcomic)~~|Baby Dinosaur Ponies]]</s> Kaadu on Naboo, etc.

* ''[[Star Wars]]'' had several; Tauntauns on Hoth, Dewbacks and Banthas on Tatooine, <s>[[Darths and Droids|Baby Dinosaur Ponies]]</s> Kaadu on Naboo, etc.

* ''[[The Dark Crystal]]'' had Landstriders, long-legged beasties with stinger tongues.

* The racing snail in ''[[The Neverending Story (~~Film~~)|The Neverending Story]]'' movie.

* The racing snail in ''[[The Neverending Story (film)|The Neverending Story]]'' movie.

* The inhabitants of Dirt from ''[[Rango]]'' primairly use bats, roadrunners, and peccaries as horses.

== [[Literature]] ==

* Do the Thestrals from ''[[Harry Potter (~~Literature~~)|Harry Potter]]'' count? Technically they're pegasi -- carnivorous, borderline undead pegasi...

* Do the Thestrals from ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'' count? Technically they're pegasi -- carnivorous, borderline undead pegasi...

* In Julian May's ''[[~~Saga of the Exiles (Literature)|~~Saga of the Exiles]]'', the mount of choice for the Tanu dwelling in Earth's prehistoric past is the chaliko- short for chalicothere. Chalicotheres are extinct relatives of horses, rhinos, and tapirs. (Unfortunately they're also generally pretty slope-backed and have a gait that really wouldn't work well at all on a riding animal. Oh well.)

* In Julian May's ''[[Saga of the Exiles]]'', the mount of choice for the Tanu dwelling in Earth's prehistoric past is the chaliko- short for chalicothere. Chalicotheres are extinct relatives of horses, rhinos, and tapirs. (Unfortunately they're also generally pretty slope-backed and have a gait that really wouldn't work well at all on a riding animal. Oh well.)

* The thoats and zitidars used as mounts in Edgar Rice Burroughs' Martian/[[wikipedia:Barsoom|Barsoom]] stories featuring [[wikipedia:John Carter of Mars|Captain John Carter of Virginia]].

* In [[Neal Stephenson|Neal Stephenson's]] ''Diamond Age'', the upper-class transport of choice is the Chevaline, which is a kind of robot horsey with a vestigial knob for a tail.

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* [[H. Beam Piper]] mentioned in ''Four-Day Planet'' that most people in the Terro-Human Future History universe believe (incorrectly) that horses are extinct. The narrator mentions having seen "so-called Westerns with the cowboys riding Freyan ''oukry''."

* The Weber/Ringo collaboration that is the ''[[Prince Roger]]'' series has a species referred to variously as 'flar'ta' and 'pagee', described as a hexapedal triceratops, almost. They are herbivorous, and mostly placid, although there is a related species ('flar'ke' or 'pagithar') which is far more aggressive (the analogy drawn is to Cape buffalo). The flar'ta fills much the same role as an elephant- pack animal, mount and occasionally war beast. There are also the ''civan'' that are used as cavalry mounts. They are described as horse-ostriches, and are two-legged, omnivorous, scaly and have a vicious strek about two miles wide.

* [[Older Than Feudalism]]: In ''[[~~True History (Literature)|~~True History]]'' by Lucian, the king of the Moon rides on a vulture-horse.

* [[Older Than Feudalism]]: In ''[[True History]]'' by Lucian, the king of the Moon rides on a vulture-horse.

* Taylor Anderson's ''Destroyermen'' trilogy has domesticated elephant-sized dinosaurs which the U.S. destroyer crews, not knowing the "brontosaurus" was actually an apatosaurus, think of as miniature brontosaurs and call "brontosarries."

* In "The Atlantean Age", a setting book for [[Hero System|Fantasy Hero]], the Tellat Empire fields units mounted on "battledons" -- take a rhino, make it 50% bigger, and add extra horns, claws, and bad attitude. Meanwhile the Hazarians look almost normal with their knights in plate armor riding giant wolves.

* The ''[[~~Planet of Adventure (Literature)|~~Planet of Adventure]]'' series by [[~~Jack Vance (Creator)|~~Jack Vance]] has "leap-horses" as the native substitute quadruped. They have heads resembling a horned tapir and exaggeratedly long necks as shown [http://membres.multimania.fr/jackvance/covers/tschai1v.jpg here]. As their name implies their motion is more of a bounding motion that a horse-like gait. All in all riding one sounds like a fast-track to lower back problems.

* The ''[[Planet of Adventure]]'' series by [[Jack Vance]] has "leap-horses" as the native substitute quadruped. They have heads resembling a horned tapir and exaggeratedly long necks as shown [http://membres.multimania.fr/jackvance/covers/tschai1v.jpg here]. As their name implies their motion is more of a bounding motion that a horse-like gait. All in all riding one sounds like a fast-track to lower back problems.

* Creatures called "chimelos," which [[Call a Rabbit A Smeerp|may or may not be dromedaries]], are used as mounts by desert-dwellers in ''[[Indigo|Infanta]]''.

* Creatures called "chimelos," which [[Call a Rabbit a Smeerp|may or may not be dromedaries]], are used as mounts by desert-dwellers in ''[[Indigo|Infanta]]''.

* John Maddox Roberts's ''Stormlands'' series has "cabos" (the word is implied to be derived from the Spanish ''caballo''; essentially four-horned horses) and "humpers" (basically camels, only with horns and tusks).

* The Lorini in ''[[Star Trek Ex Machina]]'' use animals resembling protoceratopians as beasts of burden.

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* [[Gaia Online]] has a few mount options, mostly from the Wild Things set. The Roc is pretty obviously a chocobo knockoff, and the other Wild Things are a wolf (Fenrir) and a tiger (Khan). In addition, the Fallen Wish item has a serpentine dragon that you can ride, and the Kelp o' the Loch gave you a proper horse... as well as a hobby horse.

* The Defiant faction in ''[[Rift]]'' can get vaiyuu (which look like a cross between an [[wikipedia:Oviraptor|Oviraptor]] and an antelope) and [[Mechanical Horse|mechanical horses]]. And that's only a sampling of the weird mounts in the game.

* The ''[[~~War Craft~~]]'' series, particularly ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', features such a wide variety of mounts that listing them all would be impractical. For starters, each of the ten playable races has a distinctive basic mount, ranging from undead horses to mechanical ostriches to [[Call a Rabbit A Smeerp|elephant-like]] elekks. In fact, humans are the only race that gets an actual honest-to-goodness horse. Then there are the various flying mounts, starting with griffons and giant furry bats and later progressing to sporebats, drakes, miniature helicopters, hippogriffs, etc. Lastly, ''Wrath of the Lich King'' introduced a variety of new land and flying mounts including mammoths, proto-drakes, flying carpets, motorcycles, and turtles; not to mention achievements for acquiring as many mounts as possible. The highest of these requires 100 mounts, and grants as its reward ... yet another mount.

* The ''[[Warcraft]]'' series, particularly ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', features such a wide variety of mounts that listing them all would be impractical. For starters, each of the ten playable races has a distinctive basic mount, ranging from undead horses to mechanical ostriches to [[Call a Rabbit a Smeerp|elephant-like]] elekks. In fact, humans are the only race that gets an actual honest-to-goodness horse. Then there are the various flying mounts, starting with griffons and giant furry bats and later progressing to sporebats, drakes, miniature helicopters, hippogriffs, etc. Lastly, ''Wrath of the Lich King'' introduced a variety of new land and flying mounts including mammoths, proto-drakes, flying carpets, motorcycles, and turtles; not to mention achievements for acquiring as many mounts as possible. The highest of these requires 100 mounts, and grants as its reward ... yet another mount.

** It's worth noting that pre-release promotional material for the ''Burning Crusade'' expansion referred to the Blood Elf mount as a Cockatrice; eventually, however, someone at Blizzard realized that introducing a creature with "cock" in its name into a game largely played by teenagers and immature twentysomethings was just ''[[Tempting Fate|asking]]'' [[Tempting Fate|for trouble]]. They were renamed Hawkstriders.

** Elekks look more like [[wikipedia:Pyrotherium|pyrotheria]] than elephants, really.

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== Tabletop Games ==

* Other than the aforementioned Podog, in ''[[~~Gamma World (Tabletop Game)|~~Gamma World]]'' there also is the Hopper (A giant mutant jackalope who is as dumb as a brick), the Centisteed (A horse with a whole lot of legs, as well as bug-eyes and antennae) and the incredibly odd Pineto (Think a cactus plant merged with a horse, and you'll get the idea)

* Other than the aforementioned Podog, in ''[[Gamma World]]'' there also is the Hopper (A giant mutant jackalope who is as dumb as a brick), the Centisteed (A horse with a whole lot of legs, as well as bug-eyes and antennae) and the incredibly odd Pineto (Think a cactus plant merged with a horse, and you'll get the idea)

* In ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]''' Eberron campaign setting, the Kingdom of Breland is famous for their bear cavalry. As a certain image macro says: "[[media:BearCavalry.jpg|Bear Cavalry: Yeah, you're pretty much fucked.]]"

** Unless you have [[Memetic Mutation|Cat Snipers]].

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* Likewise, ''[[Rifts]]'' features just about everything, from [[Cool Horse|Cool Horses]] to Dinosaurs to giant beetle-like monsters to bears and even giant chickens (Fun Fact: Cossacks refuse to ride the giant chickens). Plus [[Mechanical Horse|Robot and Cybernetic horses]]. ''Magic'' robot horses, too. Some species, such as Psi-Ponies and Blood Lizards, can even be chosen as player characters.

* The Savlar Chem-Dogs in ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' are an [[Redshirt Army|Imperial Guard regiment]] taken from the inmates of a [[Polluted Wasteland|toxic nightmare]] of a prison planet. Their Chem-Riders tend to saddle up bizarre, vile-looking mutant critters, Emperor knows what.

* The third-party ''[[Dungeons and Dragons|D&D]]'' setting book ''Nyambe: African Adventures'' follows the lead of the ''[[~~Saga of the Exiles (Literature)|~~Saga of the Exiles]]'' and includes chalicothere mounts. Here, however, it's clearly stated that they require special saddles.

* The third-party ''[[Dungeons and Dragons|D&D]]'' setting book ''Nyambe: African Adventures'' follows the lead of the ''[[Saga of the Exiles]]'' and includes chalicothere mounts. Here, however, it's clearly stated that they require special saddles.

* In ''Warzone'', some human soldiers ride on horse-sized bipedal dinosaurs/lizards in the jungles of Venus.

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== Toys ==

* Ussal Crabs in ''[[Bionicle]]''.

** Also Rock Steeds, which, [[Call a Smeerp A Rabbit|despite their name]], are actually large carnivorous dinosaurs. And then there are the Tahtorak (Bionicle [[Kaiju]]) on whose backs the members of the Skakdi race rode. Sand Stalkers may also count, since they look like armored dicynodonts.

** Also Rock Steeds, which, [[Call a Smeerp a Rabbit|despite their name]], are actually large carnivorous dinosaurs. And then there are the Tahtorak (Bionicle [[Kaiju]]) on whose backs the members of the Skakdi race rode. Sand Stalkers may also count, since they look like armored dicynodonts.

== Video Games ==

* In ''[[Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles]]'', the party's covered wagon is pulled by what resembles a giant blue mouse called a Papaupamus.

* ''[[~~Final Fantasy IX (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy IX]]'' has the gargants, a species of giant beetles that crawl upside down on special tracks. Wild gargants can be bribed with food, and partially controlled by their fear of water. Domesticated gargants are trained to carry special carriages.

* ''[[Final Fantasy IX]]'' has the gargants, a species of giant beetles that crawl upside down on special tracks. Wild gargants can be bribed with food, and partially controlled by their fear of water. Domesticated gargants are trained to carry special carriages.

* ''[[~~Final Fantasy X (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy X]]'' has a giant blue elephant-like creature called a "Shoopuf" that carries large amounts of people at once.

* ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'' has a giant blue elephant-like creature called a "Shoopuf" that carries large amounts of people at once.

* ''[[The Elder Scrolls]]'' series replaces cows with Netches on the island of Vvardenfell, home of many strange and unique beasts, which are herded and slaughtered for leather. For some reason, the game feels the need to prepend "Netch" to every piece of leather equipment (so, instead of wearing a leather cuirass, you wear a "Netch Leather Cuirass," just like a real person would wear a "Cow Leather Jacket"). Still, they get a bit of a pass, since netches, being enormous floating jellyfish-esque monsters, fall squarely under the [[Rule of Cool]]. Seriously, it's an enormous ''jellyfish.''

** Vvanderfell also has Guars, which are basically large and fairly cute bipedal lizards used as draft animals, and the enormous insectile Silt Striders used as mass transit.

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*** Note that regular animals were always part of the series - it's just that Vvardenfell is ''very'' strange, but the rest of the world is much more like our own, and contains ordinary horses (and cows), as seen in ''Daggerfall'' and ''Oblivion''.

* In ''[[Puzzle Quest]]: Challenge Of The Warlords'', you can capture and ride a number of creatures, from a giant rat or wolf to a giant, ''fire-breathing spider''.

* The [[Full Boar Action|giant pig-like Bulbos]] from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess ~~(Video Game)~~|The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess]]''

* The [[Full Boar Action|giant pig-like Bulbos]] from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess]]''

* In ''[[Age of Wonders]]'' most mounted units ride horses or wolves, but the Lizardmen are the most unusal ride giant frogs. There are also specialized units which ride giant eagles, wyverns, giant moles, and giant beetles.

* Before she became an expert [[Miko]] and learned to fly on her own, [[Touhou Project|Reimu Hakurei]] used to mount an intelligent, talking, flying turtle named Genji.

* ''[[~~Tales of Symphonia (Video Game)|~~Tales of Symphonia]]'' has all three:

* ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]'' has all three:

** Noishe, the party's overworld mount, is a giant white green dog with massive ears. Who's deathly afraid of monsters. And in one of the skits is speculated to be an ancient ever evolving creature.

** Some enemies are seen to ride oversized raptors called "Velocidragons".

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* Flynn from ''[[Tales of Vesperia]]'' uses a horse-like monster with reptilian traits as a steed in one scene.

** The same variety of monster is also seen being used to tow merchant caravans in ''[[Tales of Xillia]]''.

* In the first ''[[Grandia (~~Video~~ ~~Game~~)|Grandia]]'' game, there was promotional material as well as [http://comenzarjuego.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/grandia-1.jpga small cameo] in the game proper of a large, long-legged turtle which was used as a mount. [[What Could Have Been|Unfortunately]], you don't get to ride it at all, and disappeared after one town.

* In the first ''[[Grandia (video game)|Grandia]]'' game, there was promotional material as well as [http://comenzarjuego.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/grandia-1.jpga small cameo] in the game proper of a large, long-legged turtle which was used as a mount. [[What Could Have Been|Unfortunately]], you don't get to ride it at all, and disappeared after one town.

* In the point-and-click adventure ''AmerZone'', you get to ride one of the natives' mounts: a smooth-skinned, swamp-adapted giraffe.

* In ''[[Heroes of Might and Magic]] V'', various things are used as rides: unicorns (Sylvan heroes), dinosaur-like lizards (Dungeon heroes and units, [[And Zoidberg|and]] [[Defector From Decadence|Agrael]]), elephants (Academy heroes), ''mammoths'' (Fortress heroes), [[Everything's Worse ~~With~~ Bears|bears]] (Fortress units), and oxen (Orc heroes).

* In ''[[Heroes of Might and Magic]] V'', various things are used as rides: unicorns (Sylvan heroes), dinosaur-like lizards (Dungeon heroes and units, [[And Zoidberg|and]] [[Defector From Decadence|Agrael]]), elephants (Academy heroes), ''mammoths'' (Fortress heroes), [[Everything's Worse with Bears|bears]] (Fortress units), and oxen (Orc heroes).

== [[Web Comics]] ==

* ''[[~~Girl Genius (Webcomic)|~~Girl Genius]]'' has all sorts of this: wagons drawn by [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070316 horse-headed men]; the [[Dark Action Girl]] jaegermonster Jenka rides a [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070326 red grizzly bear construct named Füst]; Baron Wulfenbach's cavalry troops have the beetlesque [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070105 Hoomhoffers]; and the Geisterdamen have... well, [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050321 giant riding spiders] [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050323 for traveling the Wastelands], and [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060710 a whole profusion of other creepy stuff besides].

* ''[[Girl Genius]]'' has all sorts of this: wagons drawn by [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070316 horse-headed men]; the [[Dark Action Girl]] jaegermonster Jenka rides a [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070326 red grizzly bear construct named Füst]; Baron Wulfenbach's cavalry troops have the beetlesque [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070105 Hoomhoffers]; and the Geisterdamen have... well, [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050321 giant riding spiders] [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050323 for traveling the Wastelands], and [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060710 a whole profusion of other creepy stuff besides].

* In ''[[~~Looking for Group (Webcomic)|~~Looking for Group]]'' (loosely based on ''[[World of Warcraft]]''), one of the characters, Richard, is turned into an infant temporally and uses a bunny as a mount.

* In ''[[Looking for Group]]'' (loosely based on ''[[World of Warcraft]]''), one of the characters, Richard, is turned into an infant temporally and uses a bunny as a mount.

* In ''[[Rice Boy]]'', the Frog-men use giant lizards. Maquìn has a horse-like creature that's able to contract its entire body into its cubical head.

** And in ''[[Order of Tales]]'', Koark rides this... thing which appears to be a cross between a horse and an anteater. I don't even know.

* The Denizens ([[Living Shadow]] minions) in ''[[Sequential Art (~~Webcomic~~)|Sequential Art]]'' [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=383 tried] to ride a ''platypus'' for fun.

* The Denizens ([[Living Shadow]] minions) in ''[[Sequential Art (webcomic)|Sequential Art]]'' [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=383 tried] to ride a ''platypus'' for fun.

* ''[[Erfworld]]'' is home to a broad variety of mounts, including spidews, dwagons, gwiffons, unipegataurs, megalogwiffs, tankeroos (kangaroo-formed cloth golems), elephant-formed cloth golems, and a glass golem which appears to actually be in the form of a horse.

* Megatokyo gives us the Rent-A-Zilla whom {{spoiler|Yuki Sonoda takes to riding once her [[Magical Girl]] abilities really start to kick in.}} Largo has made use of them in this way, too.

* [[Doodze]] features a [http://seguemediagroup.com/doodze/?p=942 squirrel.] (Not a giant squirrel. Doodzes are tiny.)

* ''[[Uncreation]]'' features the centitrains, which are giant centipedes that (unsurprisingly) function as trains. They even have the ability to seperate like train carriages - by ''ripping themselves in half'' and then regenerating a new head out of the wound.

* In the world of ''[[~~Drow Tales~~]]'' it's actually pretty rare to see a regular horse, and the 9 Great Clans seem to prefer using their clan's symbol as a mount. To count it off:

* In the world of ''[[Drowtales]]'' it's actually pretty rare to see a regular horse, and the 9 Great Clans seem to prefer using their clan's symbol as a mount. To count it off:

** Sarghress: [[Big Badass Wolf]]

** Sullisinrune: [[Panthera Awesome]]

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** Vloz'ress: Giant snakes

** Jaal'darya: [[Artificial Human|Biogolems]], which can look like pretty much anything

* In ''[[~~The Beast Legion (Webcomic)|~~The Beast Legion]]'' the characters use various mounts at different stages in the comic:

* In ''[[The Beast Legion]]'' the characters use various mounts at different stages in the comic:

** [http://www.thebeastlegion.com/issue-07-page-17-lift-off/ Brilight] is a soul beast that belongs to Master Surya & can fly as well as track the Beast Transfers.

** [http://www.thebeastlegion.com/issue-01-page-28on-the-verge-of-battle/ Dragos's giant Shadow Beast] that makes a small apperance in issues 1 & 2.

== Western Animation ==

* ''[[~~Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animation)|~~Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' there are various different riding animals for the different nations due to [[Mix-and-Match Critters]]. The Earth Kingdom has the Ostrich Horse (basically an [[Expy]] of Nausicaa's Horseclaw), the Air Temples flying bison (only used for companionship and transport, the only one seen in the series being Appa), the Fire Nation has the Komodo Rhino and Mongoose Lizard, and the Water Nations has a less used Buffalo-Yak for the Tundras (otherwise they use boats).

* ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' there are various different riding animals for the different nations due to [[Mix-and-Match Critters]]. The Earth Kingdom has the Ostrich Horse (basically an [[Expy]] of Nausicaa's Horseclaw), the Air Temples flying bison (only used for companionship and transport, the only one seen in the series being Appa), the Fire Nation has the Komodo Rhino and Mongoose Lizard, and the Water Nations has a less used Buffalo-Yak for the Tundras (otherwise they use boats).

** Promotional material for The Legend of Korra adds polar bear dogs to the list.

** And can't forget the eelhounds, for those times when you aren't just satisfied with running on land.

** Flashbacks have also shown that people in the Fire Nation used to have Dragons fill in this role too, before Fire Lord Sozin happened. Roku, and Sozin himself, can be seen flying on two dragon's backs.

* The dinosaurs in ''[[The Flintstones]]''.

** Also, Boy during the "Caveman's Best Friend" episode of ''[[~~The Backyardigans (Animation)|~~The Backyardigans]]'', in a way that reminds most people of Dino. [[Expy]] anyone?

** Also, Boy during the "Caveman's Best Friend" episode of ''[[The Backyardigans]]'', in a way that reminds most people of Dino. [[Expy]] anyone?

* Seahorses are the ''[[~~SpongeBob SquarePants (Animation)|~~SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' equivalant to horses.

* Seahorses are the ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' equivalant to horses.

* The 'Buggalo' (giant ladybugs) in ''[[~~Futurama (Animation)|~~Futurama]]'' are the equivalent of cows.

* The 'Buggalo' (giant ladybugs) in ''[[Futurama]]'' are the equivalent of cows.

** And only those who ride Buggalo may have Buggalo. And [[Fantasy Counterpart Culture|that's]] [[Magical Native American|us]].

** And when driving Buggalo, you ride a giant tarantula. Farnsworth will have you know that it's not a giant ant:

{{quote| '''Farnsworth''': [[You Fail Biology Forever|Its not a magic bug you idiot, its a magic arachnid!]] [[Berserk Button|See, count the legs, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight!]]}}

* One episode of [[The Powerpuff Girls]] had the girls invaded by giant broccoli aliens after they spiked the town's broccoli supply with [[Mind Control]] broccoli that left all the adults incapacitated, leaving the girls and the kids to confront the green threat. As part of their vegetable motif, the broccoli king rides a carrot-shaped mount.

* ''[[~~Adventure Time (Animation)|~~Adventure Time]]'': Both ordinary horses and horses of a different color can be found in the land of Ooo, among them a a yellow lemon camel ridden by the manic and over-reacting lemon person, Lemongrab.

* ''[[Adventure Time]]'': Both ordinary horses and horses of a different color can be found in the land of Ooo, among them a a yellow lemon camel ridden by the manic and over-reacting lemon person, Lemongrab.

** The topper is an ordinary horse being ridden by a creature that is a cross between a rainbow and a unicorn. (Who is usually herself ridden.)

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* The [[wikipedia:U.S. Camel Corps|U.S. Camel Corps]], proving that, yet again, [[Reality Is Unrealistic]]. Essentially, since the Southwestern United States is a big desert, they decided to experiment with using camels to help the troops operate in the region. The camels were well-suited to the environment, but they did not get along with horses at all, and got along with soldiers even less. The whole project was disbanded around the time of [[The American Civil War]], and the last confirmed sighting of a live wild camel in the United States was in 1941.

** There are camels in Australia (both dromedaries and bactrians) for similar reasons. They were imported for use in the 19th century, then abandoned as automobiles came in. The freed beasties are thriving, (the only feral (i.e. ex-domesticated) camels in the world) to the extent that today Australia frequently ''exports camels to Arabia.''

* Some people have managed to ride [[Everything's Better ~~With~~ Llamas|llamas]] (or better said, to be tolerated by them), but all serious attempts to turn them into real riding animals have ended in failure. On the one hand, they are too light and weak compared to a horse or a camel (hence why most pictures of "llama riders" you'll ever find show children). On the other, they simply hate to have living beings on their back. Also, they can spit. [[Squick|And turn their necks 180º back]]...

* Some people have managed to ride [[Everything's Better with Llamas|llamas]] (or better said, to be tolerated by them), but all serious attempts to turn them into real riding animals have ended in failure. On the one hand, they are too light and weak compared to a horse or a camel (hence why most pictures of "llama riders" you'll ever find show children). On the other, they simply hate to have living beings on their back. Also, they can spit. [[Squick|And turn their necks 180º back]]...

* [http://www.badassoftheweek.com/voytek.html Private Wojtek (pronounced Voytek) the Soldier Bear], who served in the Polish 22nd Transport Artillery Supply Company during [[World War II]]. To quote from the article:

{{quote| During the fighting, Voytek the Hero Bear actually hand-carried boxes of ammunition, some weighing in at over 100 pounds, from supply trucks to artillery positions on the front lines...His actions were so inspiring to his fellow soldiers that after the battle [of [http://www.historicaleye.com/montecass.html Monte Cassino]] the official insignia of the 22nd Artillery was changed to a picture of Voytek carrying an armful of howitzer ammunition.}}