Pegasus (mascot)

Pegasus is the official logo, symbol and mascot of the University of Central Florida (UCF) a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States.

While the Pegasus is the logo and mascot of the university, Knightro is the mascot of university's athletic programs, the UCF Knights. The Pegasus logo is popular among students and the community, and UCF's equestrian club maintains a mascot program, which owns a "Pegasus" horse, a gray Andalusian stallion. Portraying "Pegasus," the horse often appears at home football games at Bright House Networks Stadium, and other home sporting events, such as baseball and softball, and alumni events.

The University of Central Florida was founded in 1963 as the Florida Technological University. In 1968, UCF's first president, Dr. Charles N. Millican, and a citizen advisory group, designed the university's Pegasus seal. The logo and the school's first mascot was approved on April 5, 1968.

The Pegasus became the school's first athletic mascot in 1970, when UCF students voted and selected the "Knight of Pegasus" as their mascot over "Vincent the Vulture" which had been the university's unofficial mascot. Today, the Pegasus logo may be seen in the university's commercials and advertisements, and adorned on almost every building.

In 2001, the UCF Alma Mater Society established the Pegasus Mascot Program to provide both riders as well as horses for the role as Pegasus and the UCF Knight. Every fall semester students are eligible to submit applications to become the UCF Knight, but only the best riders at UCF are accepted. The creation of the Equestrian Club at UCF was due to the need for riders for Pegasus Mascot Program, and now every student trying out must be a member.

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