Thepegasus (plural:pegasi; Japanese:天馬pegasus) is a wingedhorse-like species of animal domesticated byhumans in theFire Emblem series, first appearing inFire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light and present in every game since. Pegasi are primarily used by humans as steeds to ride into battle, comprising thePegasus Knight and its variousadvanced forms, and are one of the series's four flying mounts, along withwyverns,griffons, andkinshi.

Characteristics

Physical appearance

Pegasi are close relatives of horses and have a very similar physical appearance. They are covered with short fur, and feature longer manes and tails, have four hoofed feet, and so on. Unlike horses, for the most part pegasi are only found with white fur and feathers, or rarely white with a cream-colored mane and tail. The only other major color variant of pegasi appears to be black, the color of the pegasi ridden by members of theDark Flier class.

The exact nature of the biological relationship between horses and pegasi remains unknown in-universe, with characters expressing uncertainty about which evolved from the other.^[1]

Unlike horses, pegasi posses wings and the power of flight, allowing their riders even greater mobility. Apparently, they do not fly with their wings, but by kicking the air while reserving use of their wings for gliding.^[2] However, this trait is not reflected inMystery of the Emblem or games fromPath of Radiance onward, as in these games, pegasi are shown to flap their wings to remain airborne.

Falicorns

Falicorn (Japanese:ファルコンFalcon^[3]) is a somewhat ambiguous and rarely-appearing term first known to have been referenced inFire Emblem: The Complete and laterFire Emblem Fates andFire Emblem Heroes. In most uses, the term is simply used to refer to the horned variations of pegasus,^[4] and, in the localization ofFates, Nohrian Pegasi.^[5]

In the Archanea universe, Falicorns are stated to be a more aggressive and difficult to train breed of pegasus found only onValentia,^[6] though this particular information has not been directly corroborated in the relevant games. As Falicorns are rarely directly referenced, there are several games in the series where it is unclear if horned pegasi are actually distinct breeds or simply pegasi given horns as a decorative part of their armor.

Continuities that have direct references to the Falicorn term includeValentia,Nohr,Hoshido, andYlisse. The term is not known to have appeared in the materials of any other games, though the Japanese name being derived from the Falcon Knight class seems to imply the breed does exist.

Behavior and habitat

Pegasi are gentle creatures by nature, and unlike horses, they appear to be much more reserved with whom they allow to ride them. They almost exclusively only allow women to command them, though seem willing to cooperate with men if their rider wishes it; additionally, male Pegasus Knights are seen as enemies inFire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem.Hoshidan pegasi, however, are more welcoming towards male riders. Pegasi naturally have a very strong resilience againstmagical attacks,^[7] which is often reflected in theresistance stat of pegasus-mounted classes.

Pegasi appear to have a much smaller natural range than the horse, often only being utilized by countries where they occur naturally, likeSilesse andIlia. Judging by the countries they originate from, the species as a whole seems to prefer frigid climates. Pegasi may also have particularly long natural life spans, since QueenElincia's pegasus partner was the same pegasus once used by her late great-grandmother.^[8]

Notable pegasus mounts

• Annand (Japanese:マーニャMahnya):Fee/Hermina's pegasus inGenealogy of the Holy War.^[9] In Fee's case, the pegasus is named after her late auntAnnand.
• Hermes (Japanese:エルメスHermes):Karin's pegasus inThracia 776.^[10]
• Huey (Japanese:ヒューイHuey):Florina's pegasus inFire Emblem: The Blazing Blade.^[11] However, the English version erroneously calls this pegasus "Makar" instead in one passage,^[12] a mistake not found in the Japanese version.^[13]
• Murphy (Japanese:マーフィMurphy):Farina's pegasus inFire Emblem: The Blazing Blade.^[14]
• Achaeus (Japanese:アキオスAchaeus):Tana's pegasus inThe Sacred Stones.^[15]
• Titania (Japanese:ティターニアTitania):Vanessa's pegasus inThe Sacred Stones.^[16]
• An unnamed pegasus belonging to QueenElincia ofCrimea, and formerly her great-grandmother, inPath of Radiance andRadiant Dawn.^[8]
• Sleipnir (Japanese:スレイプニルSleipnir):Hortensia's pegasus in theSleipnir Rider class.^[17]

Pegasus-mounted classes

Seventeenclasses have used pegasi as mounts throughout theFire Emblem series, including one unused class. The following classes ride the typical hornless breed:

The following five classes ride the horned falicorn breed of pegasi:

• Falcon Knight
• Princess Crimea
• Queen (Radiant Dawn only)
• Seraph Knight
• Dark Falcon

Trivia

• InLute'ssupport conversation withVanessa inFire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, Lute says that one legend of the first pegasus involves it being born from the blood a creature that would turn all who gazed upon it to stone.^[18] This is referencing Greek mythology, wherePegasus was born whenMedusa was slain and her blood was spilled.
• Macedon's pegasi are apparently known for thecheese produced from their milk.^[19]
• There is conflicting information on what it takes to ride a Pegasus.
  • It is implied inThracia 776 andFates that the pegasi present in most games prefer to be tamed and ridden by women, but may allow men to;^[20][21] conversely, it is stated inThe Blazing Blade,^[22]Awakening, andHeroes that pegasi only allow women to ride them.^{[citation needed]}
  • Men have ridden pegasi inMystery of the Emblem,^[a] but these male Pegasus Knights were removed fromShadow Dragon andNew Mystery of the Emblem.
  • InWarriors, it is implied that whether pegasi allow men to ride them or not depends on the setting, with Archanean pegasi differing from the Hoshidan ones in this regard.^[23].

Etymology and other languages

Pegasus

Falicorn

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Gallery

• 
  Artwork of a Falicorn fromThe Complete.
• 
  Clair, a Pegasus Knight, riding her pegasus inGaiden.
• 
  Front to back:Palla,Catria, andEst, all Pegasus Knights, riding their pegasi inGaiden.
• 
  Thea, a Pegasus Knight, with her pegasus, inThe Binding Blade.
• 
  Florina, a Pegasus Knight, with her pegasus, Huey, inThe Blazing Blade.
• 
  Marcia, a Pegasus Knight, with her pegasus inPath of Radiance.
• 
  Elincia with her cream-colored pegasus inPath of Radiance.
• 
  Sigrun, a Falcon Knight, riding her pegasus inRadiant Dawn.
• 
  Shigure, a Falcon Knight, riding his pegasus inCipher.
• 
  Concept artwork of a Falcon Knight and their horned steed fromGenealogy of the Holy War.
• 
  Concept artwork the Pegasus mount fromThe Binding Blade.
• 
  The enemy male Pegasus Knight sprite inMystery of the Emblem.
• 
  Portrait of a pegasus inWarriors: Three Hopes.

Notes

References

See also