Tradition / Region: Catalan Mythology, Spanish Mythology
Alternative names: Donamula
Category: Horse
The Myth
The Muladona is a monstrous creature from Catalan folklore with the body of a female mule and the head of a human woman. According to legend, it was once a young woman who was cursed by her community for being irreverent and irreligious, transforming her into this unnatural form.
After her transformation, the Muladona wandered through the mountains, especially at night, where she joined trains of mules. Her presence terrified the animals, causing them to panic, stampede into ravines, and perish.
The creature has the body of a mule, but its mane resembles a woman’s hair and its face is unmistakably human despite retaining some animal features. It is always depicted with the four legs of a mule, although some traditions show its front legs connected to a human-like torso where a mule’s neck would normally be. It is also consistently portrayed with breasts, emphasizing its female nature.
To protect their animals, muleteers fed their mules small pieces of bread shaped like the Muladona, believing this charm would prevent them from being frightened. They also carefully counted the mules in their caravans, fearing that the Muladona might secretly mingle among them and bring disaster if it went unnoticed.
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Muladona. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muladona