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(07-04-2016, 04:28 AM)Valence Wrote: In the meantime though... I wonder lore wise how common are actual horses in Eorzea? Just being curious.
I mean, they'd be imports from Othard, which is entirely under Garlean rule.
I reckon the huge majority of horses in Eorzea arrived because they were imported by Domans or Xaela who, when fleeing Garlean rule, were able to bring their steeds with them. Which is a bit of a precarious situation - you'd have to have somehow safely transported your animal to port, and then have there be room on the ship, and then have it survive the trip to Eorzea, not get sick when exposed to the new ecosystem and food, and adjust emotionally to the new environment.
But the fact there is a Xaela tribe who view animals as on a par with people in terms of importance, and a second, separate Xaela tribe who literally marry their horses, makes me think there are certainly individuals determined to go to any lengths possible to bring their animal with them - their presence in Eorzea would necessarily mean the presence of a horse, too. Probably various Doman nobles and similar, as well - for example: a noble in hiding following the razing, "can't bear to part with" their animal, leveraging whatever wealth or status they have left to have it transported along with them.
So on the whole - not the rarest thing in the entire world, but also not very common, simply owing to the fact that getting one out of Garlean territory alive would be a major challenge.
...more common than primal ponies, though. xD I feel like Average Joe's reaction on seeing such a creature would be "is that a Coerthan unicorn? I thought they were extinct!" and then "No? So one of them exotic 'horse', then?", not "oh, one of those manifestations of a Primal's power, but in rideable format! Cool!"