In the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, Pooh’s gloomy donkey friend is Eeyore.
Eeyore is an old, grey, anthropomorphic donkey who lives in the Hundred Acre Wood. He is famous for his pessimism, dry remarks and gloomy outlook, but he is also thoughtful, loyal and capable of genuine compassion. His favorite food is thistles, and he is frequently troubled by his detachable tail.
A. A. Milne introduced Eeyore in Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926, with illustrations by E. H. Shepard. The character was inspired by a stuffed donkey bought for Milne’s son, Christopher Robin. Eeyore’s name echoes a donkey’s bray; the spelling reflects the non-rhotic English pronunciation familiar to Milne’s original audience.
Eeyore lives in the southeast corner of the Hundred Acre Wood, in a place labeled “Eeyore’s Gloomy Place.” Disney’s adaptations made him a major recurring character, often softening his book-era cynicism while preserving his melancholy personality.