A descendant of the wild ass, the donkey is a domestic member of the horse family used for hauling goods since 4000 BC.

Donkeys are also related to zebras, although they’re often stockier, stronger and have much different personalities.

Female donkeys are called “jennies” or “jennets,” and a female ready to breed is known as a “broodmare.”

Ass is interchangeable with donkey, and “jackass” refers specifically to a male donkey. But a jackass is not a mule, and all burros are not jackasses.