Animals and their abilities are identified throughoutOne Piece, especially in terms of pirate crews. While the series has many animal-adjacent beings, includingZoan Devil Fruit users, minks, and species such as fish-men, sometimes a pirate is actually just an animal.
Despite typically possessing lower intelligence than most other species, animals tend to have natural attributes that add to their appeal, such as their physical strength, obedience, and even special niches or abilities that other humans may lack. They typically tend to bond with one other human in the crew over others, although this is not always the case. While these characters are often classified as “pets,” they can have, at times, significant roles in the crew.
5Monster
Musician of the Red Hair Pirates
This topknot-wearing monkey is actually a longtime member of theRed Hair Pirates. He is often seen alongside Bonk Punch, and fights alongside him as well. He is fairly intelligent as far as animals go, and seems to understand humans. There is little seen of his proper participation in fights, but this is attributed more to the extremely limited screen time had by the crew thus far.
Due to the prestige of his crew, it is thought that he is at least somewhat powerful. His seniority also helps add to this impression somewhat. It is likely that as the Red Hair Pirates become a more focal point, this monkey’s skills will be viewed more indepth. Monster is notably not the only monkey pirate, as Doma, a former subordinate of Whitebeard, is also seen aided by one in combat.
4Richie
Member of Cross Guild, Former Captain of the Buggy Pirates
Richie is Mohji’s pet lion, and has been a member of every known incarnation ofthe Buggy Pirates, alongside his master. As Mohji is an animal tamer by trade, his worth to the crew is intrinsically connected to his ability to tame Richie. During the Orange Town arc, Mohji was one of the pirates who Luffy and his crew fought in an effort to protect the town. After Luffy ended up defeating Richie, Mohji became too afraid to properly fight the pirate himself.
After Buggy’s defeat and temporary disappearance, Richie becomes captain of the crew, beating out Mohji and Cabaji, the other two potential candidates. Under his leadership, the crew was captured by the cannibalistic Kumate tribe. Fortunately, Buggy and Alvida were able to save them. As the series continues, he has been depicted less like a fearsome beast, and in a somewhat more lighthearted and cartoonish manner.
3Stronger
Doc Q’s Steed
Stronger is a horse affiliated with the Blackbeard Pirates, who is often seen alongside Doc Q, a pirate doctor, and one of the crew’sTen Titanic Captains. He is something of a service animal, carrying his owner, who is too sickly to move around, despite his profession. Ironically, Stronger does not appear to be in particularly great health himself. However, he is still fairly strong and resilient.
Due to Doc Q’s own lengthy tenure with the Blackbeard Pirates, Stronger has been part of the crew since it was a 5-man operation. He has since consumed a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, which allows him to transform into a pegasus. As stronger is already a horse, this seems to merely allow him to fly. How exactly he came into this poweris a mystery, but considering the Blackbeard Pirates' historic actions, it was likely taken off someone the crew killed.
2Farul
Cavendish’s Steed
Farul is the pet horse of Cavendish, the captain of the Beautiful Pirates, a crew currently involved with theStraw Hat Grand Fleet. He has apparently been a companion of the pirate since his youth, as Oda illustrated him alongside his master when depicting him as a child. Despite seemingly starting out as a mere pet, Farul is fairly strong for a horse.
He notably survived having his skull shattered by a headcracker doll, merely remaining unconscious and awakening sometime after the fact. Like his captain, he has somewhat bougie mannerisms, notably drinking a cup of tea with his hooves, despite not appearing to have limbs that would lend themselves to that kind of dexterity.
1Tony Tony Chopper
Doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates
Arguably the most useful animal in any pirate crew to date,Tony Tony Chopperwas a doctor on Drum Island, after having been instructed in the trade of medical science by Kureha. The Hito Hito no Mi gave the pirate human intellect, which made him abandon his clan after realizing his blue nose made him an outcast. He eventually joined the Straw Hat Pirates, after they made an appearance on the island. Although Chopper does not require a human companion in the same way most animal pirates do, he has a generally great rapport with most of his crewmates.
In addition to Chopper’s medical skills, he is also a combatant, who uses the physiology of his Devil Fruit powers, to cultivate various forms he can use, that emphasize various aspects of his skill set. He typically tends to appear in his “brain point” form, which allows him to think the most thoroughly. This form is the one that is the most publicly known, and tends to lead to him being classified as a “pet”, despite being one of the animal pirates least qualified for that term.
