History Main / OnlyTheChosenMayRide

* Main/{{Pegasus}} could only be tamed by use of a magic bridle provided to Bellerophon. Even this was not enough to prevent Pegasus from throwing Bellerophon off when he tried to fly to Olympus (although in one version Zeus sent a horsefly to bite Pegasus midair, causing him to buck and throw off his rider). No one else ever rode him.

* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': The Ryshadium, a breed of horses that pick their riders. Dalinar and Adolin each have a Ryshadium mount, larger and smarter than other horses. Their antagonist, Sadeas is frustrated that he is unable to have a horse as fine, despite his great wealth. An offhand mention in the [[Literature/WordsOfRadiance second book]] implies that the Ryshadium originally belonged to the [[TheOrder Knights Radiant]], and millennia-old worldhopper Hoid is pleasantly surprised when he discovers them.

** Worth special mention is Toruk Makto, who is said to be untameable by even the strongest of Na'vi. Jake manages to do so.

* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': The Ryshadium, a breed of horses that pick their riders and seem to be intelligent enough to understand human speech. Dalinar and Adolin each have a Ryshadium mount, larger and smarter then other horses. Their antagonist, Sadeas is frustrated that he is unable to have a horse as fine, despite his great wealth. An offhand mention in the [[Literature/WordsOfRadiance second book]] implies that the Ryshadium originally belonged to the [[TheOrder Knights Radiant]], and millennia-old worldhopper Hoid is pleasantly surprised when he discovers them.

* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'' has the Ryshadium, a breed of horses that pick their riders. Dalinar and Adolin each have a Ryshadium mount, larger and smarter then other horses. Their antagonist, Sadeas is frustrated that he is unable to have a horse as fine, despite his great wealth.

* Main/{{Pegasus}} could only be tamed by use of a magic bridle provided to Bellerophon. Even this was not enough to prevent Pegasus from throwing Bellerophon off when he tried to fly to Olympus (although in one version eus sent a horsefly to bite Pegasus midair, causing him to buck and throw off his rider). No one else ever rode him.

* Main/{{Pegasus}} could only be tamed by use of a magic bridle provided to Bellerophon. Even this was not enough to prevent Pegasus from throwing Bellerophon off when he tried to fly to Olympus. No one else ever rode him.

* An interesting take occurs in the first ''TheLoveBug'' movie. Herbie, the titular vehicle is a living car that moves on its own, has emotions, and even speaks to some degree (albeit only through use of his horn). He decides for himself who he'll let drive him, and anyone he doesn't like could just as easily be thrown out of the seat.

* Played straight in "Wildwood Boys" by James Carlos Blake - Quantrill rides the most meanest horse in whole regiment.And he is quite fond of that dog-killing and people-biting big roan. Even names him "Charley".

* In ''Taran Wanderer'', the fourth book in the ''Literature/ChroniclesOfPrydain'', this trope comes into play when Taran's beloved horse Melynlas is stolen. He's able to prove that the horse is his when Melynlas refuses to cooperate for any rider except Taran.

However, some steeds are not content with just any master. These beasts, be they horses, [[DragonRider dragons]], [[Franchise/FinalFantasy giant yellow birds]] or what have you, decide for themselves who is worthy enough to ride them and who is not. They may be a {{Unicorn}}, a HellishHorse, a SapientSteed or just extremely proud. Whatever the reason, these horses simply CANNOT be broken by just anyone.

Examples such as a steed that is particularly stubborn but could be 'broken' by anyone, or the ProudWarriorRace being the only ones who know the "secret" to taming the creatures would NOT fall under this trope. Please be mindful of this when adding examples.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Live Action Tv]]

* ''{{Literature/Dinotopia}}'' Only a Skybax's rider can even get close, and the creature itself chooses when the rider has proven himself or herself as worthy to be made an apprentice and later a master rider.

* That's how dragon riding works in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. Each dragon is a BondCreature to a specific rider, who has to qualify to some nebulous criterion (being born of the right bloodline, having used a specific cursed horn the right way... or, sometimes, repeatedly bribing the dragon with sheep works, too). And if you are a rider of a specific dragon, you'd better not try to approach another one: the criteria are not interchangeable.

* Bucephalus was a stallion of excellent breeding, being sold for a rather exorbitant price despite being considered largely untameable. A young AlexanderTheGreat was able to tame and ride him, but no one else ever could.

* The titular ''Literature/DragonridersOfPern'' are chosen this way. The dragons form an empathic bond with a particular human, who is then shanghaied into the life of a dragonrider. The bond is so strong that riders of dragons who mate often wind up having sex as well whether they have a relationship or not.

* The Companions of the ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' series are [[SapientSteed magical white horselike beings]] which [[BondCreatures bond]] to a particular human rider. The Companion always [[TheChooserOfTheOne chooses the human]], never vice versa. Being Chosen by a Companion makes someone [[TheChosenMany one of the titular Heralds]], who have PsychicPowers and serve as a combination of Mounties, rapid messengers, {{Circuit Judge}}s, military scouts and special forces, and Search and Rescue service, among other things. Heralds are considered to be intrinsically [[IncorruptiblePurePureness incorruptible]], because the Companions don't Choose people who would take bribes or the like. Because of this, it is required that the ruler of the country be a Herald, and no one who has not been Chosen by a Companion is eligible to be ruler or heir.