The unicorn is the national animal of what country?

The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland.

Though mythical, the unicorn has been a Scottish heraldic symbol since at least the 12th century. Scottish kings used it to represent strength, purity and independence; medieval legends also portrayed the unicorn as fierce, untamable and a natural enemy of the lion.

The symbol became especially prominent in royal heraldry. Scotland’s royal arms traditionally showed two unicorns, while the arms of the United Kingdom, created after the crowns were united in 1603 and later revised after the 1707 parliamentary union, feature a Scottish unicorn alongside the English lion. The unicorn is usually shown chained because its legendary power was considered too dangerous to leave uncontrolled.

A common mix-up is assuming Scotland’s national animal must be a real native species, such as the red deer or golden eagle. Instead, the unicorn is a national emblem rooted in mythology and heraldic history. Scotland’s national flower is the thistle, while the lion is associated with England.