Lopar

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Lopar are animals used by the Seanchan in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books.

Lopar are the premier fighters of the Seanchan exotics. They are very large, weighing between fifteen hundred and two thousand pounds. Lopar are covered with a tough, leathery hide. When taken into battle, they are fitted with a set of overlapping metal plates to protect the animal’s spine and chest.

Lopar are able to sprint faster than a horse for short distances, but tire relatively quickly when forced to run for any length of time. Lopar are also intelligent, almost as intelligent as a torm. Like the other exotics, the mortality rate is high for young. The lopar young are always born in pairs, though they seldom both survive.

In addition to fighting in battle, lopar are often used as guard animals. Members of the royal family often use them to guard their children. Lopar used in this way become extremely loyal to those it is supposed to protect. Animals that become attached in this way often prove difficult to separate from the one they are commanded to protect - they often refuse to eat for some time afterward.