Ponta

is a tanuki who is an animal companion of Sabu. He is apparently more observant than Sabu, as he is the first to detect Kisame Hoshigaki.

Trivia

 * Ponta was salvaged from an unused concept of Zabuza Momochi, in which he was to carry as massive axe and have a bear-like pet tanuki.
 * Ponta is written as ポン太. This name is a stereotypical name to give to pet tanuki, a bit like Fido is for a dog or Mittens for a cat. It is also the name Saburō Kitajima used when he was part of the comical duo.