Winnie-the-Pooh is a fictional anthropomorphic bear created by A.A. Milne and inspired by his son's stuffed bear named Winnie. The character of Winnie is based on a Canadian black bear named Winnie that Christopher Robin saw at the London Zoo. Pooh was added to the bear's name after Christopher met a swan named Pooh while on holiday. The stories take place in the real Ashdown Forest in England. Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in a Christmas story in 1925 and the book was published in 1926, featuring Pooh and his friends like Piglet and Eeyore. Pooh is described as being naive but also friendly, thoughtful and kind.