Donkey is a nickname for the ass, used in all parts of the world.
The small gray donkey of northern Africa was the progenitor of the Spanish burro, which accompanied the conquistadors to Mexico and South America, and later played such an important role in the settlement of the West. Donkeys are slower in their movements than horses and are still used as beasts of burden, especially in areas where horses do not thrive or where poverty prevents their purchase. The true wild ass is found only in northern Africa. They have been domesticated for centuries, and it is generally accepted that asses, or donkeys, were domesticated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. From there they found their way east and later, to all parts of the world.