Riding Raptor
Riding Raptors were the traditional mount of the roving Halflings southwest of Tintagel; they have grown in popularity after the Sorcerer War and are now bred throughout the Dragon Empire. Startlingly intelligent, a Raptor is an obligate carnivore that, despite its preferences in meals, is a stalwart companion, generally unfazed by magic and the clash of steel or magitech arms. War Raptors are the largest and most intelligent of the bunch, while riding raptors are used as pack animals and mounts throughout the empire, and even pull wagons.
As pack animals, Raptor loyalty is to its owner and those it sees as 'pack', and it will bond to other Raptors that it works with for a time. Raptor packs work together almost instinctively, and a pack is much more dangerous than any individual - and may respond poorly to abuse or mistreatment.
Regardless, like the horse in modern culture, Riding Raptors in thousands of colors, bred for plumage, dressage, or work - in a variety of sizes and capabilities - are available and in common use.