Puka (Irish for ghost), also known as pooka, phouka, puca, and púka, is one of the Fair Folk. Both revered and feared by those who know of its existence. Legends say that it is either malevolent or benevolent when malevolent children are warned not to eat overripe blackberries as they are a sign of Puka corrupting them, while they are shown to be helpful to farmers when they are offered things to work for such as a coat.
They are skilled transformers and take the shape of many animals that are always black. If a human should ride on their backs they will take them for a ride but will not eat or drown them. In Welsh, they are known as the pwca or pwwka and in Cornish as Bucca.
