(ポニータ '''Ponīta''' in
Japanese , '''Ponita''' in
German and in
French ) is a fictional character in the
Pokémon series of
Animé ,
Manga , and
Video Game s. It is a fire-type Pokémon that resembles a pony, and is among the original 150 Pokémon. It evolves into
Rapidash .
Ponyta's name comes from the English word ''pony'', meaning a small horse, which suggests it is the smaller of the two
Horse Pokémon, and the Spanish suffix ''-ita'' denoting its small size. It may also be a shortened form of ''Ponytail'' or a pun on Spanish ''bonita'', meaning "beautiful, cutesy" using the suffix.
Ponyta is a
Diurnal Herd ing
Herbivore pokémon. They ususally live in
Grassland s or
Mountain s.
A Ponyta's mane and tail are composed of flame; however, the intensity of this flame can be controlled. It can keep its flames cool enough to not even start hay or paper aflame, but it can become hot enough to melt
Copper in combat. This can seen in the animé, where Ash discovers he has earned a Ponyta's trust when it ceases to burn him.
The
Hooves of a Ponyta are incredibly hard, and harder than
Diamond . Thus, they never need to be shod. In addition, it can sense movement on the ground in a limited radius, due to a mechanism in its feet similar to an
Elephant 's.
Ponyta can leap up to 300m (~985 ft.), among the highest of any pokémon. They are known for their high speed so many people like to race them. It is a weak runner from birth, but it eventually gets faster by chasing its parents.
Ponyta can be captured in eight games. In
Pokémon Red And Blue , it can be found in the abandoned Pokémon Mansion in Cinnabar Island. In
Pokémon Yellow , it can be found in Route 17. In
Pokémon Gold And Silver and
Pokémon Crystal , it can be found in Mt. Silver and Routes 22, 26, 27, and 28. And in
Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen , it can be found outside Mt. Ember and Kindle Road.
Ponyta has had three movelists:
- In Pokémon Red And Blue and Pokémon Yellow , Ponyta learned seven moves: Ember (a Fire-element energy attack), Fire Spin (a Fire-element capture attack), Growl and Tail Whip (Normal-type stat-draining attacks), Stomp and Take Down (Normal-type physical attacks), and Agility (a Psychic-type stat-boosting attack)
- In Pokémon Gold And Silver and Pokémon Crystal , only two moves were added (Tackle, a Normal-type physical attack, and Fire Blast, a Fire-type energy attack), but the movelist went a major reorganization, as the levels that every ability was learned was modified, sometimes by twenty levels or more. For example, where Growl was learned at level 35 in the Red-Blue-Yellow games, it was learned at level 4 starting in the Gold-Silver-Crystal games; while Ember had been 'learned' at level 1 in Red-Blue-Yellow, it was changed to level 13 in the Gold-Silver-Crystal games.
- Later, Bounce (a Flying-type physical attack) would be added to Ponyta's ability list, without much other modification..
Ponyta can learn one of two
Pokémon Abilities : Run Away or Flash Fire. Run Away allows it to escape from any battle, except when trapped (such as with Magnet Pull) or in an official Pokémon League battle. Flash Fire renders it immune to Fire attacks, and gives it a 50% damage bonus with Fire-type moves, if it is hit in combat with a Fire attack.
Ponyta's speed is in the top 20% of all Pokémon.
Most pokémon, in the animé, can speak a sort of 'poké-speech' that is represented in the animé by inflected repetitions of the pokémon's name. Ponyta is an exception; it cannot speak at all, and can only make sounds normal horses make. However, it can understand both humans and Pokémon normally.
Ponyta was first seen in episode 33, "The Flame Pokémon-athon". This episode also features ponyta on the pokedex. The ponyta belonged to Laura Laremie who ran a tauros ranch and was also training for a Pokémon race with ponyta. As usual Team Rocket messed things up, so Ash went in Laura's place. During the race Ponyta evolved into Rapidash and won the race.
Much like the real-world horse, Ponyta are often used for riding by pokémon trainers.
Prior to the appearance of
Stantler in
Pokémon Gold And Silver ,
Santa used Ponyta to pull his sleigh.
