Palkia, along with {{p|Dialga}}, may be based on the {{wp|Shinto}} legend of {{wp|Izanami}} and {{wp|Izanagi}}, who are said to have created one island with a spear, erected a pillar on it, and from there created the islands of Japan. Appearance-wise, Palkia is likely based after a European {{wp|dragon}} combined with a {{wp|pearl}}. Its appearance may also be derived from the ''{{wp|Plateosaurus}}'' or other bipedal dinosaurs such as the ''{{wp|Oviraptor}}''. The water typing could be based on the three forms of matter currently known during development of [[Generation IV]], [[Dialga]] representing solid, Palkia representing liquid and [[Giratina]] representing gas.