Who owns Eeyore?

Could you please clarify who exactly owns the beloved character Eeyore from the classic children's book series Winnie-the-Pooh? Is it the author A.A. Milne who first created him, or does the copyright belong to some other entity now? Additionally, have there been any licensing deals or partnerships that involve Eeyore's ownership or image rights? It's a fascinating question to ponder, as the character has become such an iconic part of popular culture.