The fastest land animal in North America is the pronghorn antelope. While the cheetah is often recognized as the fastest land animal globally, pronghorns hold the title in North America due to their remarkable speed and endurance. Pronghorns can reach speeds of up to 55 miles per hour (89 kilometers per hour) and maintain high-speed runs for longer distances than cheetahs. Their unique adaptations include large lungs and a streamlined body that aid in their impressive sprinting capabilities. This speed helps them escape predators in their natural habitat, primarily the open plains and grasslands of western North America.