There are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.
The Chinese zodiac is a repeating twelve-year cycle in which each year is associated with an animal. In traditional order, the cycle runs Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. After Pig, the sequence begins again with Rat.
The system is connected with the twelve Earthly Branches, an ancient Chinese calendrical framework. The animal cycle also combines with the ten Heavenly Stems to create a larger 60-year sexagenary cycle, so a particular animal year can be paired with different elements and yin-yang designations.
People commonly confuse the Chinese zodiac with Western astrology. The Chinese system primarily assigns animals to years, while Western zodiac signs divide the apparent path of the Sun into twelve constellational or astrological signs. Another wrinkle is that zodiac-year boundaries follow the traditional lunisolar calendar, not January 1, and some traditions use the beginning of spring instead of Lunar New Year.