History Main / ZebrasAreJustStripedHorses

-->-- '''[[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'''

''WesternAnimation/PeppaPig'' makes the mistake of using horse noises for zebras; Zoe the zebra will let out a "Neigh!" instead of a "Bark!"

* ''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.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'': Subverted with Blitzle and Zebstrika. They're the token "equine" Pokémon of the Unova region, but it can't learn High Horsepower, since it's not a horse.

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, rather than real zebra tails which are longer and have shorter hairs.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'': Subverted with Blitzle/Zebstrika. It fills the role of the "Two-Stage Equine" archetype, but it can't learn High Horsepower, since it's not a horse.

->''"Why didn't the first humans ride out of Africa on the backs of Zebra to conquer the world? [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome Because Zebra, are bastards.]]"''

Compare HorseOfADifferentColor, for when animals other than horses are used as steeds and pack animals. Related to AllAnimalsAreDomesticated and could be considered an equine version of AllAnimalsAreDogs and PenguinsAreDucks.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionGuard'' makes the mistake of using horse noises for zebras. ''WesternAnimation/PeppaPig'' copies the same error for when Zoe the zebra makes her animal sound. She'll let out a "Neigh!" instead of a "Bark!"

-->--'''[[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.'''

->''"Why didn't the first humans ride out of Africa on the backs of Zebra to conquer the world? [[RealityEnsues Because Zebra, are bastards.]]"''

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

-->--'''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOmjnioNulo Zebra vs Horses: Animal Domestication]] by WebVideo/CGPGrey'''

Compare HorseOfADifferentColor, for when animals other than horses are used as steeds and pack animals. Related to AllAnimalsAreDomesticated and could be considered an equine version of AllAnimalsAreDogs.

* ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2'': In one mission, Arthur Morgan must ride a zebra back to its owner. It behaves the same as the horses in the game.

* ''Disney/{{Fantasia}}'': The "Pastoral Symphony" sequence features a pair of African centaurs whose equine half is that of a zebra.
* ''Disney/{{Dumbo}}'': The zebras pull a carriage during the circus parade.

* ''Aesheba: Greek Africa'', a system-neutral RPG product released under Creator/EGaryGygax'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.

Compare HorseOfADifferentColor, for when animals other than horses are used as steeds and pack animals. Related to AllAnimalsAreDomesticated.

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 as hybrid Zedonk, but the offspring tend to be infertile.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' gives us the Essossi creatures known as zorses, considered a distinct kind of striped equine with somewhat of the nature of a StubbornMule, but not especially so. Zebras that can be ridden like horses, basically (but they're not really used in heavy draught work). Alternatively, they could be something like a Burchell’s zebra that took more after their quagga cousins than any existing zebra subspecies in Real Life.
** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebroid Zorses exist.]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin As the name suggests,]] they're hybrids of horses and zebras.

A common variant is that zebras make horse-like neighing and whinnying sounds, instead of their own unique vocalization. Another variant is to portray zebras with horse-like tails, rather than real zebra tails which are longer and have shorter hairs.

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 as hybrid Zedonk.