The Thestral was a breed of winged horse with a skeletal body, face with reptilian features, and wide, leathery wings that resemble a bat's. They were native to the British Isles and Ireland, though they had been spotted in parts of France and the Iberian Peninsula. They were very rare, and were considered dangerous by the British Ministry of Magic. Thestrals were, undeservedly, known as omens of misfortune and aggression by many wizards because they were visible only to those who had witnessed death at least once.