Unicorns

The Unicorns of All Elfin are native TO All Elfin. They mostly roam free on the southern continent, wild and happy. But the High Queen has a herd of them who will come to her call and permit riders. Daystar is the herd stallion. Silvermoon is the lead mare.

Please note, that it is the mares who have the little beards, NOT the stallions. Mares do not grow the beard until their first heat. It is the visible sign of their complete maturation, as Unicorns reach full size several years before they are ready to mate.

Like horses, a stallion has a harem of mares and guards his territory and his females. Elfin do NOT geld, therefore every stallion has a chance to produce offspring. Their fertile matings are few and their numbers are never so great that they pose an ecological danger to the part of All Elfin they inhabit. Like Elfin, they are longer-lived. A Unicorn can live for upwards of two hundred years.

Mother's herd is several generations away from the original members. Our genetic engineers keep a close watch and indicate when new gene lines must be introduced to her herd. She does not permit inbreeding in her herd as it weakens the lines.
There are non-fertile Elfin who spend large parts of their adult lives with the wild herds, seeing to their health and well being. Ditto for all of ALL Elfin's creatures. Which, if any, animal a non-fertile Elfin chooses to be allied to is a matter of choice for the Elfin.

Elfin Lords and Ladies may have pets, but they will not have the time for the concentrated efforts needed to keep animals and plants in eco-balance, so Mother's dedication to her herd is something of a departure from tradition. It has only served to make her more popular and beloved by the people, however. Elfin know a good thing when they have it!