Quick Answer
The Mink are an anthropomorphic human-animal people living on Zou, an island perched on the back of Zunesha — a millennia-old elephant on an eternal march. Their ultimate ability, the Sulong form, allows a full-moon transformation that multiplies their power at the cost of extreme exhaustion. Governed in alternation by Inuarashi (the Dog Duke, day ruler) and Nekomamushi (the Cat Viper, night ruler), the Mink are historical allies of Wano’s Kozuki clan and of Luffy’s crew.
Article written by the Wanted Store team — sources: One Piece manga vols. 1-110+ by Eiichiro Oda, Toei Animation anime, official SBS. Updated on April 26, 2026.
What is a Mink?
The Mink constitute one of the most singular races in the One Piece universe. They are beings of hybrid morphology: a humanoid body covered in dense animal fur, with ears, a tail, claws or fangs depending on their animal species. Dogs, cats, rabbits, bears, jaguars, lions — the diversity of the Mink reflects the entire terrestrial animal kingdom. Despite their radically different appearances, they form a tight-knit community, living in tribal harmony on their floating island.
Physically, the Mink are well above the human average. Their natural musculature, combined with remarkable endurance, makes them formidable fighters even without a Devil Fruit. Every Mink also possesses the ability to generate electricity, a discharge known as Electro, which they can infuse into their attacks to electrocute opponents. This innate ability makes Mink warriors dangerous from a very young age.
Culturally, the Mink are deeply attached to their traditions, their island, and their sworn allies. They fight to the death to protect their secrets — including their bond with Wano’s Kozuki clan — as proven by their heroic resistance against Jack, one of Kaido’s Calamities.
The Island of Zou and the Elephant Zunesha
Zou is no ordinary island. It rests on the back of Zunesha, a titanic elephant of barely conceivable proportions, whose legs plunge into the depths of the ocean. Zunesha has walked without pause for millennia, with no fixed destination, tracing a wandering that has never ceased. The island itself, perched hundreds of metres above the waves, remains inaccessible to the vast majority of sailors — which long protected the Mink people from unwanted outside contact.
Zunesha is not merely a giant mount: it is a conscious entity capable of communicating. Only Momonosuke — heir to the Kozuki clan — can hear and interpret its voice. This connection is far from trivial: Zunesha was sentenced long ago by the Twenty Kingdoms (at the time of the Void Century) to march indefinitely without being able to defend itself of its own volition. This divine punishment is one of the saga’s deepest mysteries, directly linking Zunesha to the secret history of One Piece’s world and to the figure of Joy Boy.
For the Mink, Zunesha is not a beast of burden: it is their home, their protector, their living god. The relationship between the Mink people and this millennial elephant beautifully illustrates how Oda weaves links between the forgotten history of the world and the contemporary arcs of the story.
The Mink Leaders: Inuarashi and Nekomamushi
The governance of the Mink people rests on a unique system: two sovereigns alternate every twelve hours. Inuarashi — the Dog Duke, an aristocratic-looking dog Mink — reigns during the day from his throne; Nekomamushi — the Cat Viper, a cat Mink of boisterous temperament — takes over at nightfall. This system is not merely a political curiosity: it stems from an ancient rivalry between the two men, who cannot stand each other and refuse to share the same space at the same time.
Yet behind this surface animosity lies an extraordinary shared past. Both Inuarashi and Nekomamushi sailed alongside Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, over twenty-four years ago. They traversed the Grand Line with his legendary crew, reached Laugh Tale, and discovered the One Piece. This connection with Roger explains why the Mink hold a Road Poneglyph — one of the four needed to locate the final island.
Both leaders are also exceptional warriors. Inuarashi wields his estoc with formidable precision; Nekomamushi excels in bare-handed and claw combat. Both rank among Zou’s most powerful Mink and played a central role in the Onigashima coalition against Kaido and the Beasts Pirates.
The Sulong Form — Full Moon Transformation
The Sulong is the Mink’s ultimate transformation, accessible only under a clear full moon. Beneath that celestial body, a Mink can unleash a tenfold raw power: their fur becomes immaculate and luminous, their eyes glow red, and their physical capabilities along with their Electro reach an extraordinary level. It is a weapon of last resort, feared by all who have faced it.
| Aspect | Pre-Sulong State | Sulong State | Risk / Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical strength | Above human average | Multiplied tenfold or more | Total exhaustion after prolonged use |
| Electro | Controlled discharges | Massive, near-uncontrollable blasts | Can injure nearby allies |
| Appearance | Normal coloured fur | Luminous white coat, red eyes | Semi-conscious state if poorly mastered |
| Duration | Permanent | A few minutes in intense combat | Physical collapse guaranteed |
| Access condition | None | Visible, clear full moon | Unusable under cloud cover or indoors |
Although all Mink theoretically have access to the Sulong form, few actually use it. The reason is simple: the form demands extreme mental and physical control to avoid descending into combat madness. During the Battle of Onigashima, several Mink — including Carrot, Wanda, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi — used the Sulong to counter Kaido’s forces, at the cost of considerable physical sacrifice.
Notable Mink Characters
Carrot is a young rabbit Mink — sparkling and determined — who joins Luffy’s crew from the Zou arc onwards. She is the one who reveals to readers the full extent of the Sulong during the Battle of Totto Land, where she decimates an entire fleet under the full moon to allow her companions to escape. Her personal narrative arc — Pedro’s legacy, her loyalty to Luffy — makes her one of the most developed Mink characters. Her Wanted Poster is available at Wanted Store.
Wanda is a dog Mink, one of the first to welcome the Straw Hat crew to Zou. An accomplished fighter and de facto diplomat, she plays a crucial liaison role between the Mink and their human allies. She also uses the Sulong at Onigashima alongside Carrot.
Pedro the Jaguar was a jaguar Mink, former captain of the Guardians of Zou and one of the most tragic characters in the Whole Cake Island arc. Convinced that his destiny was to give his life for the dawn of a new era, he sacrificed himself by triggering an explosion to allow Luffy’s crew to escape Big Mom’s territory. His death continues to reverberate through Carrot’s motivation.
Bepo is a polar bear Mink, navigator of Trafalgar Law’s Heart Pirates. Gentle, loyal, and often socially awkward, Bepo is nonetheless a serious fighter capable of using the Sulong. His presence in Law’s crew illustrates that not all Mink are confined to Zou. You can find his Wanted Poster at Wanted Store.
As for Nekomamushi, whose Wanted Poster is also available, he embodies the raw power and overflowing enthusiasm of the Mink people, facing Kaido in Sulong form during the final raid.
The Mink–Straw Hat–Wano Alliance
The Zou arc is the starting point of an unprecedented coalition in One Piece: the alliance between the Straw Hat Pirates, the Mink people, the samurai of Wano, and Trafalgar Law’s Heart Pirates. This union, sealed around the memory of Oden Kozuki, had as its ultimate objective the overthrow of Kaido and the Beasts Pirates who had oppressed Wano for twenty years.
The Mink had a deeply personal motivation: Jack, one of Kaido’s Calamities, had attacked Zou and tortured its people for five full days, seeking to extract the whereabouts of Raizo, a ninja from Wano. The Mink refused to speak, enduring horrific suffering rather than betray their allies. This silent sacrifice illustrates the depth of the centuries-old friendship pact binding the Mink to the Kozuki clan.
During the Onigashima raid, the Mink formed the backbone of the night assault, using the Sulong to sow panic in enemy ranks. Inuarashi faced Jack in a duel and Nekomamushi did the same — two confrontations charged with immense symbolic value: Zou’s revenge. For a detailed analysis of the Wano arc, see our article on the Wano arc and its narrative stakes.
History and Ties to Joy Boy
The Mink’s role in One Piece’s grand history extends far beyond their physical presence in the Zou arc. Their people already existed during the Void Century — the 800-year period erased from official records by the World Government. The Mink, settled on Zunesha, naturally escaped the authority of the Twenty Kingdoms, which allowed them to preserve traditions and knowledge that the rest of the world lost or destroyed.
Zunesha itself is a living relic of that era. Its punishment — to walk without end, never able to act of its own volition except on the order of a “Voice of All Things” carrier — suggests that it committed a grave act alongside Joy Boy, whose weight it still bears. When Momonosuke frees Zunesha from its constraint at Wano, the elephant can finally fight — a symbolic turning point: the resumption of a path interrupted 800 years ago.
The Mink are therefore living witnesses to a truth the official world sought to bury. Their alliance with the Kozuki clan, their Road Poneglyph, their presence alongside Roger: everything indicates that they occupy a pivotal place in the final revelation that Joy Boy’s story holds for the reader. To explore this link further, read our articles on the Void Century and on Joy Boy and Im.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions About the Mink
- What is a Mink in One Piece?
- A Mink is an anthropomorphic being — half-human, half-animal (dog, cat, rabbit, bear, jaguar…) — living on the island of Zou, which rests on the back of the giant elephant Zunesha. Mink possess natural strength above the human average and can all produce electricity via Electro.
- Where is the island of Zou?
- Zou is an island perched on the back of Zunesha, a titanic elephant that has walked relentlessly through the ocean for millennia. Its exact location is therefore variable and difficult to pinpoint, which long protected it from unwanted visitors.
- What is the Sulong form?
- The Sulong is a transformation accessible to all Mink under a visible full moon. In this form, the Mink’s strength and Electro are multiplied tenfold, their fur becomes a luminous white, and their eyes glow red. The downside: extreme fatigue and the risk of losing control of one’s actions with prolonged use.
- Why do Inuarashi and Nekomamushi take turns every twelve hours?
- The two Mink leaders have a deep personal rivalry dating back to their shared youth. To avoid any governance conflict, they established an alternating system: Inuarashi rules during the day, Nekomamushi at night. Despite this animosity, they share a past as fellow crew members of Gol D. Roger.
- What is the connection between the Mink and the Kozuki clan of Wano?
- The Mink and the Kozuki clan of Wano are bound by a centuries-old pact of friendship. The Mink have always protected the Kozuki’s secrets, even at the cost of their lives, as demonstrated by their resistance to Jack’s torture rather than reveal Raizo’s location.
- Who is Pedro and why is he important?
- Pedro the Jaguar was a jaguar Mink, former captain of the Guardians of Zou. He sacrificed himself during the Whole Cake Island arc to allow Luffy’s crew to escape, convinced that this act would contribute to the dawning of a new era. His death is one of the most impactful of the post-Timeskip saga.
- Does Bepo belong to the Mink of Zou?
- Bepo is indeed a Mink (polar bear), but he does not belong to Zou’s community. He is the navigator of Trafalgar Law’s Heart Pirates. His personal history and the reasons why he left Zou remain partly mysterious in the manga.
