Sentient Animals in LOTR and Silmarillion

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Tar-Verimuchli

Another related question is do purses have souls?

Negative. The troll's purse in The Hobbit was an anachronism. I think Bilbo just made up that part to explain some carelessness of his that got him caught.

As for Shadowfax, he was of the mearas, and the Rohirrim at least had the belief that the Vala Oromë brought that breed of horses from the West. If that was indeed the case, it's no wonder they would have been so intelligent and swift. Animals from the Blessed Realm would probably have been as gifted compared to 'normal' animals as Elves were to Men, though not immortal, of course.