Troll Pony

Large beast, unaligned

Armor Class 13 (natural)
Hit Points 45 (6d10 + 12)
Speed 60 ft., swim 60 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	13 (+1)	15 (+2)	2 (–4)	12 (+1)	5 (–3)

Skills Perception +3
Damage Resistances slashing damage from nonmagical attacks
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages —
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Semi-aquatic. A troll pony suffers no penalties in underwater movement or combat and can remain underwater for up to an hour without needing to surface for breath.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The troll pony makes one Ram attack, one Tusks attack, and two Claw attacks. Instead of the two Claw attacks, it can choose to make a single Tail Slap.
• Ram. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
• Tusks. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) slashing damage.
• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) slashing damage.
• Tail Slap. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage.

ABOUT

It was an odd thing that answered the sea druid’s underwater summons. The four creatures — ponies, she called them — had scales and powerful tails. But they were the ugliest things I’d ever seen. Like a boar and a moose mashed into one face. Three of us drank potions for the underwater ride, and Goleenda cast a spell she used frequently to dive beneath the ship to search for damage. But I have to admit the creatures were fast in the water, getting us to the underwater shipwreck in record time. — Delphira Enesi, on the successful search for The Steel Lady’s Tears.

Troll ponies are not equines of any kind, but they do make tough and steady beasts of burden, or even mounts, much like ponies. While trolls would be more likely to eat a troll pony than domesticate it, the people of the coastal regions where troll ponies are native see them as troll-like on three counts. First, they are semi-aquatic, much like the local sea trolls. Second, their hides are so tough it is joked that a troll pony is as hard to hurt as a troll. Third, and perhaps most decisively, troll ponies, like trolls, have faces that make camels look elegant and personable.

Training a Troll Pony

A troll pony raised from birth by humanoids can serve as a pack animal or, with proper training, bear a rider, even in combat, on land or sea. Wild-born troll ponies are not typically trainable, especially not for riding. Training a captive-bred troll pony as a combat mount takes six weeks of work followed by a successful DC 20 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check.

Troll ponies bond heavily to one rider at a time and behave poorly when ridden by unfamiliar people. During the first month with a new rider, all ride checks are made at disadvantage, and the new rider must be sure to ride the troll pony every day to establish a good relationship. Troll ponies also respond poorly to rough handling or abuse, requiring a balance of firm boundaries and gentle patience. Once a troll pony bonds to a new rider, however, it becomes a courageous and loyal companion, often compared to a large, ugly dog.

Well-bred troll pony “pups” are worth 700 gp apiece on the animal market, while a well-trained adult costs three times that at a minimum. Professional trainers charge 1,000 gp to rear or train a troll pony. Cheaper troll ponies may be available in small, coastal towns where they are native, but these are likely to be better suited for hauling than riding.