In ancient times it was surmised that the pearls on a Spoink's head were held in place by a psychic field, or that they were connected to the head like some oddly-colored organ. Today, it is known that they are stolen Clamperl placed onto the head via the tail, held between the ears, and kept from falling off these pokemon by the greatest balancing act known to man.
Elite archers seeking glory have long attempted to knock the pearl off a Spoink's head. The pearls alone are small targets, moving pink bulls-eyes, but Spoink will protect their pearl with their body or by adjusting the angle so that the pearl is only dented, not knocked over. Although many fallen Spoink pearls show visible damage, a close examination reveals that the few pearls successfully knocked off were either shots from behind, or the shots of pokemon who had first used a targeting technique such as Mind Reader. Archer after archer went out to surpass the legends of their own generation, yet those who claimed that feat were inevitably reduced to sneak attacks or outright lying like those before them; few carried any pearl with them.
Spoink despise this custom; although men may find it kinder than hunting for sport or food, Spoink consider hunting less cruel. Once a pearl is lost, a Spoink is too old to venture into water and stop bouncing long enough to get a new one, and the old one is damaged beyond repair by contact with land. The pearls regulate the hearts of every Spoink; without them they can live only as long as they bounce, evolution their only hope of survival. If they hit the wrong surface and get stuck or are knocked out in battle, Spoink will die, and many have died this way.