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The Pombero is a mythical elf from the North-east region of Argentina, and the zones near it, such as Paraguay, and southern Brazil.
His guarani name is Cuarahú-Yara, which means "owner of the sun", because he appears mainly at siesta when the sun is at its highest. He is also supposed to be able to appear at night, if people talk about him. He is supposed to be a libidinous little man, who impregnates women who live alone with the touch of his hand (other people say he actually has intercourse with the woman, but often non-consensual). He also protects the women he impregnates, especially if they are carrying a girl. His hands and feet are hairy, so his footsteps are inaudible. He's also called "pata de lana" (wool feet), which is also a way to call men who women commit adultery with. He wears a big hat. He's also the guardian of the birds, and he protects them from children who kill these with slingshots. Parents usually use this story to keep children in home during the siesta. He can make the sound of any bird. He leaves the cattle loose, steals chickens, honey, scares the horses and throws riders off, among other things. Despite the bad things he does, he can be the best friend you can have. He likes cigarettes and especially tobacco, so people often leave these for him on windows or posts. He's said to help people who offer him things, especially for finding lost objects: the person says something like "Pomberito, ayudame a encontrar [whathever they are looking for] y te doy un cigarrito" ("help me find ... and I'll give you a cigarette"). Usually things appear shortly after that, so people leave cigarettes or tobacco for him. Bad things happen if they don't, or if someone talks about him in a bad way. He, with the sole touch of his hand, can leave a person mute, for example. Leaving these gifts for him make him your friend and he even will guard your house, and even give you gifts. Depending on the zone, people fear him or like him. In Paraguay they don't even mention him.
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