World of Warcraft offers a variety of mounts for the different races of Azeroth. Humans, for example, generally ride horses, and Orcs tend to favor their trusted wolf mounts. A mount is a special type of permanent pet that a player can own. Using one requires the riding talent, and with extensive training, riding specialists will be able to use mounts not generally available to their particular race.

More than mere status symbols, mounts allow players to travel over land more quickly than on foot. When a player is mounted, he or she has full control over the mount. To avoid exploiting monsters, players cannot attack while mounted. Also, monsters are unable to attack mounts. Instead, when a player is mounted, all attacks and damage are directed at the player and not at the mount. If a player dies while on a mount, the mount will "unsummon" and be available for "resummoning" once the player reenters the world of the living.

Mounts are available to everyone at level 40. The level 40 mount is 80g (or cheaper depending on faction) and is 60% faster than walking. A second faster mount is available at level 60. This mount is 1,000g (or cheaper depending on faction) and is 100% faster than walking. Before being able to ride these mounts, you must first get training from the trainer which will roughly cost 20g.

Players (except Tauren) can purchase and train mounts from other races in their faction. However, you will first need to obtain "exalted" reputation status with that race in order to do so. At this point this is very difficult to do, if not impossible. There are some other special mount options in the game, however. Mounts of the opposing faction are not available for purchase.

Warlocks and Paladins have a level 40 and level 60 quest for their special mounts. Paladin Epic Mount quest: To begin, talk to the paladin trainers Duthroian Rall or Brandur Ironhammer. Warlock Epic Mount quest: To begin, speak with a demon trainer in any of the capital cities: Kurgal, Martha Strain, Spackle Thornberry, or Jubahl Corpseeker.

There are rare mounts out there to discover!