| Samaton | |
| Type: | Meitei |
| Affiliation: | Meitei fiction (Manipuri fiction) and Meitei religion (Sanamahism) |
| Other Names: | Samadon Ayangba, Shamadon Ayangba, Samaton Ayangpa, Shamaton Ayangpa |
| Region: | Manipur |
| Deity Of: | Divine ancestor of Meitei horse (Manipuri pony) |
| Cult Centre: | Heingang hills |
| Abode: | Heingang hill |
| Gender: | Male |
| Festivals: | Lai Haraoba |
| Spouse: | Ngangrubi |
| Greek Equivalent: | Pegasus |
Samaton (/saa-ma-ton/) or Samadon (/saa-ma-don/) is a fictional winged divine horse in Meitei fiction. He is one of the most recognised creatures in Meitei fiction.Book: Devi, Dr Yumlembam Gopi . Glimpses of Manipuri Culture . 16 June 2019 . Lulu.com . 978-0-359-72919-7 . en. Book: Chandra, Yashaswini . The Tale of the Horse: A History of India on Horseback . 2021-01-22 . Pan Macmillan . 978-93-89109-92-4 . en. Legend says that Samaton is the ancestor of the present day Manipuri pony (Meitei horse). The Leithak Leikharol describes Samaton as a primordial horse associated with Meitei cosmology.It is created by Sanamahi to attack on Pakhangba. Later, it became the mounting creature of God Marjing. It is also called "Shamadon Ayangba" or "Shamaton Ayangpa" due to free variation of words in Meitei language (Manipuri language).
Samaton is praised in the ritual song of Ougri sung during the Lai Haraoba festival. Samaton is considered very important to Meitei culture because it is created from the body of God Sanamahi. During the deification of Meitei kings, Samaton became associated with kings as it was a divine being. So, Samaton became the insignia of royalty.