Prancer

Prancer is a fictional reindeer in Christmas folklore, commonly identified as one of Santa Claus's eight reindeer. The character appears in Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, where Santa's team is named Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen (originally spelled Donder and Blixem in the poem, with later variants including Donner and Blitzen). The name Prancer suggests a prancing or jaunty gait, and depictions typically portray the reindeer as energetic and alert, though specific traits vary by adaptation.

In modern media, Prancer is typically presented as part of Santa's sleigh team or as a character within Christmas stories. The 1989 film Prancer centers on a family and a young girl who encounters a wild reindeer associated with Christmas lore, a narrative that helped keep the name prominent in popular culture. Outside film, Prancer has appeared in children's books and stage works as part of the broader Santa Claus mythos.

Prancer is generally considered one of the standard eight reindeer alongside Dasher, Dancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is commonly treated as a separate ninth addition in popular culture. The character remains a secondary, though recognizable, element of Christmas folklore rather than a singular canonical figure.