In their own hearts, every Horsea is as much a dragon as any Dragonite or Salamence. They recoil from other dragons, unless they think they can scare them away with their own draconic powers (typically a mere Twister) but show none of the fear of lightning or plant life of other water-type pokemon, often injuring themselves with their courage.

It is not that they do not know they lack this typing, but that they will not accept it; ink paintings made by Horsea are often on the subject of their longing to be accepted as the equals of Gible and Dratini. In the wild, they would rather fight as dragons and lose than fight as fish and win, and this is a difficult habit for any trainer to break: it is recommended that trainers only match them against pokemon for whom water and dragon have the same effect.

Some have theorized that Horsea are so troubled by this because they are descendants of Kingdra, and therefore can not bear to lose the prestigious status of their parents, but Bagon (who are dragons) are equally determined to regain flight, despite the fact that birds have never been as admired. It is currently believed that extreme stubbornness and longing to to gain another type are traits shared by all young dragons, and it is simply that Dratini and Trapinch hide them better than others.