Décor entièrement tricoté de Yoshi's Woolly World, avec des Yoshis en laine

Poochy: the invincible dog of the Yoshi series

1085 words | Reading time : 5 minute(s)

CharacterYoshiYoshi's Island

He trots across spikes and lava without ever flinching. Introduced in Yoshi's Island in 1995 under the Japanese name Pochi — Japan's answer to "Rover" — Poochy acts as a raft on paws for Yoshi across the deadliest stretches. This article covers his woolly incarnation in Woolly World, his 2017 crowning when his name joined the game's title on 3DS, and the arrival of the Poochy Pups.

Tongue lolling, spring-loaded tail and nerves of steel: Poochy is the most unkillable dog in video games. Neither spikes, nor lava, nor enemies can stop him — he trots over everything that burns or impales, grinning from ear to ear.

A loyal companion to Yoshi since the Super Nintendo era, this good boy has climbed every rung of the ladder, all the way to landing his name in the credits of an entire installment. A portrait of the dinosaur's best friend.

Contents

Born on Yoshi's Island

Poochy makes his debut in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Super Nintendo, 1995), the masterpiece with its pastel crayon artwork. His design is brilliantly simple: a big white dog with an endless snout, a red spiked collar, no eyes visible under the fringe — and the energy of a puppy let loose in a park.

His Japanese name, Pochi, is the Japanese equivalent of "Rover": the quintessential dog name. A fitting label for this companion with no pedigree but no equal either.

Walking on lava: the quiet superpower

Poochy's legend rests on one unique property: he is completely immune to ground hazards. The good dog trots over spikes as if on a lawn and over lava as if on warm paving, without ever flinching.

  • In Yoshi's Island, he therefore serves as a raft on paws: Yoshi and Baby Mario climb onto his back to cross the deadly stretches.
  • Poochy follows the direction pointed out by egg throws or by Yoshi's position, like a big dog fetching the ball.
  • He is invulnerable but not infallible: badly guided, he can lead his passenger straight into an airborne trap.

A platforming partner that is literally all-terrain — the top dog of level design.

Wool and Poochy Pups

The Yoshi series never let go of him again. In Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U, 2015), Poochy becomes an adorable ball of yarn: a dog knitted out of wool, with little wheels instead of hind legs, who barrels in to help Yoshi through the trickiest levels.

The 2017 3DS port crowns the star once and for all: renamed Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, it writes the dog into the game's very title and introduces the Poochy Pups, three pups to track down in the levels and to watch frolic in animated shorts of their own. Few Nintendo supporting characters can boast such favoured treatment.

Poochy and his Poochy Pups in knitted wool
Woolly World invents a whole litter of Poochy Pups for him, all made of wool.

Still on duty in Crafted World

In Yoshi's Crafted World (Switch, 2019), the world shifts to cardboard and craft materials, and Poochy follows suit: he is there at his post, with his pups, to lend a hand — or rather a paw — in the game's great object hunt.

That constancy has made him a pillar of the entire Yoshi series: every new installment reinvents its material — crayon, wool, cardboard — but carefully keeps its dog, like a production good-luck charm.

Poochy asleep in a set built from craft materials
Yoshi's Crafted World remakes him in felt, without changing his role.

The Yoshi-Poochy duo, a heartfelt classic

If Poochy has stayed a cult favourite, it is because he embodies an irresistible archetype: the hero's faithful dog, loyal, enthusiastic and a touch scatterbrained. Opposite him, Yoshi plays the owner overwhelmed by his companion's energy — a comic duo that has been working for almost thirty years.

Add to that his status as the best potential plush in the Nintendo universe — a round white dog, genuinely rendered in wool in his own games — and you get one of the most huggable characters in the Mario galaxy.

Poochy at a glance

Name Poochy
Japanese name Pochi
Species Dog
First appearance Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995)
Superpower Immune to spikes and lava
Role Yoshi's mount and scout
Crowning moment Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World (3DS, 2017)
Offspring The Poochy Pups

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FAQ

  • Which game does Poochy first appear in?
    In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, released in 1995 on Super Nintendo, where he helps Yoshi and Baby Mario cross the dangerous areas.
  • What is Poochy's power?
    He is immune to ground hazards: he walks over spikes and lava without taking the slightest damage, which makes him an ideal mount.
  • Why is the 2017 game called Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World?
    Because the 3DS port of Woolly World puts the dog centre stage: it adds his name to the title, plus dedicated levels and the Poochy Pups to find.
  • Who are the Poochy Pups?
    Three pups introduced in Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, to be tracked down in the levels and starring in short animated films.
  • Does Poochy appear in Yoshi's Crafted World?
    Yes, he is there with his pups in the 2019 Switch installment, faithful to his role as Yoshi's all-terrain helper.

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