History Main / ZebrasAreJustStripedHorses

Zebras are technically very close relatives of horses, as horses, asses, and zebras all belong to the genus ''Equus'', making the three as closely related to each other as lions, tigers, and leopards (all members of ''Panthera''), though this doesn't mean that zebra will act the same way as a domesticated thoroughbred (they are also closer to asses than to horses). Part of the reason is that zebras are still ''wild animals'', and have never been successfully domesticated. They make poor steeds or work animals since they are known for being more high-strung and aggressive than a horse, largely because they evolved in a more predator-rich environment (donkeys are also more stubborn and aggressive than horses since their wild ancestor also comes from Africa). You won't see a zebra at a stable or participating in a horse race, due to their unpredictable nature, and zebras are actually among the most common large animals to injure and sometimes even kill zookeepers. Zebras can be tamed, insofar as they can be raised to tolerate humans around themselves, but they're not domesticated like horses or even donkeys. Zebra can be bred with horses and asses to produce hybrids, called a zeedonk (zebra+donkey) or a zorse (zebra+horse) (since they are genetically so close), but the offspring tend to be infertile.

Zebras are technically very close relatives of horses, as horses, asses, and zebras all belong to the genus ''Equus'', making the three as closely related to each other as lions, tigers, and leopards (all members of ''Panthera''), though this doesn't mean that zebra will act the same way as a domesticated thoroughbred (as they are also closer to asses than to horses). Part of the reason is that zebras are still ''wild animals'', and have never been successfully domesticated, and they make poor steeds or work animals, since they are known for being more high-strung and aggressive than a horse, largely because they evolved in a more predator-rich environment (this is likely the same reason donkeys are prone to being more stubborn and aggressive than horses, since their wild ancestor also comes from Africa). You won't see a zebra at a stable or participating in a horse race, due to their high-strung nature, and zebras are actually among the most common large animals to injure zookeepers. Zebras can be tamed, insofar as they can be raised to tolerate humans around themselves, but they're not domesticated like horses or even donkeys. Zebra and domestic equines can be bred to produce hybrids called a zeedonk (zebra+donkey) or a zorse (zebra+horse), but the offspring tend to be infertile.

On the other hand, some media depicts zebras as being more similar to their domesticated counterparts than they actually are. When this trope is in play, a zebra will be seen alongside horses and even acting like them. People may ride on them or hitch them to chariots, or they may appear as the "horse" half of a [[OurCentaursAreDifferent centaur]]. This is particularly common for African countries or Africa-derived {{Fantasy Counterpart Culture}}s, which are often shown using zebras as an exotic alternative for horses.

In real life, zebras are considered wild equines, but are not the same as horses found in other parts of the world. In fact, the zebra is more closely related to the African wild ass (the ancestor of the donkey) than to horses. You won't see a zebra at a stable or participating in a horse race. Zebras can be tamed, insofar as they can be raised to tolerate humans around themselves, but they're not domesticated like horses or even donkeys, and have never been successfully trained to bear riders or pull loads. Zebra and domestic equines can be bred to produce hybrids called a zeedonk (zebra+donkey) or a zorse (zebra+horse), but the offspring tend to be infertile.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'': Subverted with Blitzle and Zebstrika. They're the token "horse" Pokémon of the Unova region but they can't learn High Horsepower, since they aren't actually horses. AllAnimalsAreDomesticated, however, is still in play, and they can be still tamed just as easily as any other Pokémon.

In real life, zebras are considered wild equines, but are not the same as horses found in other parts of the world. In fact, the Zebra is more closely related to the African Wild Ass (the ancestor of the Donkey) than to Horses. You won't see a zebra at a stable or participating in a horse race. Zebras can be tamed, but they're not domesticated like horses or even donkeys. Zebra and domestic equines can be bred to produce hybrids called a zeedonk (zebra+donkey) or a zorse (zebra+horse), but the offspring tend to be infertile.

On the other hand, certain media depicts zebras as being more closely related to their domesticated counterparts than they actually are.

When this trope is in play, a zebra will be seen alongside horses and even acting like them. People may be riding on them too, or they may appear as the "horse" half of a [[OurCentaursAreDifferent centaur]].

A common variant is that zebras make horse-like neighing and whinnying sounds, more like a high-pitched bray, instead of their own unique vocalization. Another variant is to portray zebras with horse-like tails, while real zebra tails are longer and have shorter hairs, akin to that of a donkey.

* The WidgetSeries that is ''Japan World Cup'', the African racer rides a zebra. He does not return in the sequels.

* While on the planet Pervious in ''ComicBook/{{Saga}}'', Alana rides a [[HorseOfADifferentColor white, zebra-like animal]] with orange stripes at the front that fade to grey at the back.
* ComicBook/RulahJungleGoddess would often use a zebra as her personal mount.
* In ''ComicBook/TheLifeAndTimesOfScroogeMcDuck'' Scrooge, at the time stranded in the African wilderness, considers riding a zebra as if it was a horse, even calling it a striped horse, but opts for a lion instead. {{Justified}} in that he hadn't been in South Africa for long - and he had been using a horse-driven cart before it was stolen.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Dumbo}}'': The zebras pull a carriage during the circus parade.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Babar}} Babar: The Movie]]'': The elephants and rhinos use zebras to pull carriages. Apparently, these zebras are strong enough to carry the weight of elephants and rhinos.

* Discussed and subverted in ''Film/TheLegendOfTarzan''. Tarzan tells George Washington Williams that a horse will just throw you off its back, a zebra will go on kicking you until it kills you.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' gives us the zorse, a black-and-white striped species of equine from Essos. It's not clear if they're supposed to be real-world zebras, a fictional species similar to a zebra, or a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebroid cross between a zebra and a horse]]. Whatever they are, they can be ridden in battle.
* Played with in ''Literature/JuliusZebra''. The first book shows a comparison between horses and zebras, and Julius is called a stripy horse in some parts. The third book has Julius and Brutus race against horses in a chariot race.
* Some tales of the Franchise/CthulhuMythos set in the Dreamlands mention the use of zebras as mounts for cross-country travel. Possibly a ''self-enforced'' example: because so many waking humans accept this trope's premise, the zebras of Dreamland may behave more like horses than actual wild zebras, the better to accord with dreamers' expectations.

* One of the kingdoms in ''TabletopGame/SpearsOfTheDawn'', a game set in a fantasy version of ancient UsefulNotes/{{Africa}}, is mentioned as fielding units of zebra-riding cavalry. This despite the fact that horses are perfectly common in the setting.
* ''Aesheba: Greek Africa'', a system-neutral RPG product released under Creator/GaryGygax's short-lived "Fantasy Masters" label, depicted both natives and classical Greek immigrants using zebras to draw their chariots. The product did, at least, concede that zebras do not accept riders.

* In ''Videogame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic IV'', heroes from the [[InHarmonyWithNature nature-themed]] Preserve faction use zebras as steeds.
* Played With in the Wildlife Safari behavior pack in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'': The zebras don't neigh like horses, they bray like donkeys.
* PlayedWith, {{Lampshaded}}, and {{Subverted}} in ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2''. One side mission involves finding a zebra belonging to a traveling circus show headed by a moustahioed British man [[GenderBlenderName named Margaret]]. The zebra sounds like a mule, and worse, [[spoiler:turns out to be one painted as a zebra.]]
* ''VideoGame/VivaPinata'': When a Horstachio (Horse) consumes blackberries and daisies, it will turn into a Zumbug (Zebra). This is the only way to get the zebra pinata.
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' has the ''Zhevra'', a unicorn-like zebra, which runs wild in the in-game equivalent of the African savanna, but can also be seen anywhere else as a mount, once available to any player.
* The first ''VideoGame/ZooTycoon'' inverts this trope. For some reason the developers made [[SecretCharacter unicorns]] "bark" like zebras instead of neighing.
* ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm'' has a Zebra mount, which is organized under horses in the collection. Its flavour text even lampshades this:
-->''While zebras are in the equid family, they're technically not horses. I'm just sayin'.''

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionGuard'' makes the mistake of using horse noises for zebras. Interestingly, in "The Zebra Mastermind" the zebra Thurston was referred to as a donkey with stripes, alluding to the fact zebras are closely related to donkeys.

* ''WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse2013'': A one point in the episode "Safari, So Good", the zebras sound like donkeys.

* {{Averted}} in ''WesternAnimation/WhereOnEarthIsCarmenSandiego'', Zack says "Zebras don't tame easy" and instead the two ride ostriches to chase after the title character.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Subverted. The ponies initially think that Zecora, a zebra, is just a weird-colored pony; Twilight is the only one who knows what a zebra is. Zecora also acts very differently from the ponies (which leads them to mistakenly believe that she is a witch). While her affinity for potions and [[RhymesOnADime rhyming]] are cultural, the part where she paws at the ground is a real difference between ponies and zebras. Horses paw at the ground as a threat display, while zebras just do it to look for water.
* WesternAnimation/TheHairBearBunch uses shoe polish to disguise Stripes the Zebra as a horse and enter him in a horse race in the episode "Ark Lark."

* One of the kingdoms in ''TabletopGame/SpearsOfTheDawn'', a game set in a fantasy version of AncientAfrica, is mentioned as fielding units of zebra-riding cavalry. This despite the fact that horses are perfectly common in the setting.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Babar}} Babar: The Movie]]'': The elephants and rhinos use zebras to pull carriages. Apparently, these zebras are strong enough to carry to weight of elephants and rhinos.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Babar}} Babar: The Movie]]'': The elephants and rhinos use zebras to pull carriages.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionGuard'' makes the mistake of using horse noises for zebras.

* ''Film/TheGreatestShowman'': Barnum and his family are shown riding in a coach driven by a pair of zebras when he takes them to their new mansion. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], because the zebras come from his circus.

-->-- '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOmjnioNulo Zebra vs Horses: Animal Domestication]]''' by WebVideo/CGPGrey, explaining why this trope doesn't work in real life

* ''Series/GameShakers'': Zigzagged in the episode "Tiny Pickles", [[EccentricMillionaire Double G]] claims he was riding a stripeless zebra in a dream he had. While Babe (the smart one of the group) claims that's just a horse, there are actual cases of [[AccidentallyCorrectWriting stripeless zebras dating back to 2004,]] though chances are Double G didn't know this.

* ''Series/GameShaker'': Zigzagged in the episode "Tiny Pickles", [[EccentricMillionaire Double G]] claims he was riding a stripeless zebra in a dream he had. While Babe (the smart one of the group) claims that's just a horse, there are actual cases of [[AccdentallCorrectWriting stripeless zebras dating back to 2004,]] though chances are Double G didn't know this.

In real life, zebras are considered wild equines, but are not the same as horses found in other parts of the world. You won't see a zebra at a stable or participating in a horse race. Zebras can be tamed, but they're not domesticated like horses or even donkeys. Zebra and domestic equines can be bred to produce hybrids called a zeedonk (zebra+donkey) or a zorse (zebra+horse), but the offspring tend to be infertile.

* ''Film/RacingStripes'': A zebra by the name of [[PunnyName Stripes]] is trained to take part in a horse race.