Which U.S. political party first used the donkey as its unofficial mascot, a brand symbol that has endured for nearly 150 years?

Political parties and government agencies invest heavily in brand identity to establish recognition and trust. From logos to color schemes, these visual elements communicate values and help differentiate one political entity from another. This trivia question explores an interesting aspect of political branding that changed the landscape of campaign visualization in American politics.

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Democratic Party (after Thomas Nast's 1870s political cartoons)
Republican Party (after political campaigns in the 1890s)
Federalist Party (after Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign)
Whig Party (after political rallies in the 1840s)