Ho-oh?? It's kinda like a turkey... Cats & Birds don't bond very well, i guess... Ha-ha!

Ho-Oh is similar to a phoenix-like creature, and has a head similar to a Peacock's due to its crest. It can see into the future. It flies continuously through the world's skies on its magnificent 7-colored wings. Its appearance signifies the beginning of an era of peace between humans and Pokémon. It will reveal itself to Trainers who are pure of heart and it is also said to live at the foot of a rainbow.

Long ago in Ecruteak, there were two towers, the Brass Tower and Tin Tower being the roost of Lugia and Ho-Oh, respectively. When the Brass Tower burned down, thus being renamed the Burned Tower, both Pokémon fled, never to be seen again. Three Pokémon became trapped in the flames of the Brass Tower and perished. Ho-Oh returned to the Burned Tower and resurrected the three Pokémon, who were renamed Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. They were to guard the ruins of the Burned Tower, while Lugia resided in the Whirl Islands off the coast of Olivine. Of the three Pokémon, Ho-Oh is closest to Suicune, as revealed in Pokémon Crystal. Ho-Oh's relationship with the three legendary beasts parallels the relationship Lugia has with the three winged mirages Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, it is caught at the Tin Tower in Ecruteak City.

In Pokemon Colosseum, Ho-Oh was said to be a representative of the bonds between humans and Pokemon. After the player beats Evice, head of the Cipher organization, Ho-Oh thwarts Evice's attempt to escape by destroying his helicopter.

In the first episode of the series, Ash Ketchum sees a large, shining bird flying above the plain, making Ho-Oh the first Pokémon to appear in the anime before the games, as well as the first Legendary Pokémon to appear in the anime. When he consults his Pokédex, it responds that it has no data on the gorgeous creature, emphasizing that there are many Pokémon that have not yet been identified. Ash later discovers it was Ho-Oh by talking to Morty, Ecruteak's gym leader, and Eusine, a Suicune fanatic and legendary Pokémon expert. Ash later sees Ho-Oh again as he leaves for Hoenn.In the Poké-rap song, Ho-Oh can be seen in one of the slide shows.