One Piece is not an anime that is typically associated with romance. For the most part, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, avoids romance subplots. However, that hasn't stopped fans from creating relationships or "ships" between their favorite characters.
As a gruff and aloof character who is also fiercely loyal to the people he cares about, Roronoa Zoro is the main target for popular ships in One Piece. It is unclear who Zoro will end up with once One Piece is over, but when analyzing his relationships with other characters in the anime, there are several who would make a good match for him.
8 Zoro And Nami Respect Each Other's Strengths
As the founding members of the Straw Hat Pirates, Nami and Zoro know each other very well. Although they often butt heads, they have mutual respect for each other's strengths. Zoro respects Nami's abilities when it comes to navigation and will blindly follow her commands when it comes to directing the ship. Nami sees Zoro as being the toughest member of the crew, which she commented on during the events of Thriller Bark. It's clear they both care deeply for one another, so it wouldn't be a stretch for those feelings to develop into something more.
7 Robin's Personality Complements Zoro's
While other members of the straw hat crew are loud and boisterous, both Robin and Zoro are content to stay quiet and observe. Their personalities are similar, and even though they differ in strength and intelligence, they both manage to balance each other out. Initially, Zoro did not trust Robin's intentions but eventually grew to respect and care for her. On several occasions, Zoro came to Robin's defense and was even enraged when Eneru attacked her during the Skypiea Arc. It would not be surprising if a relationship happened between the two of them.
6 Zoro Initially Feared Tashigi But Grew To Respect Her
Zoro's relationship with Tashigi is a unique one. She bears a striking resemblance to Zoro's childhood friend Kuina and because of that Zoro tries to avoid her at all cost. It wasn't until the time skip that he was comfortable being around her.
By that point, Zoro gained somewhat of a soft spot for Tashigi. Even though they are supposed to be enemies, it's clear there is mutual respect between them. Their relationship has developed a lot since they first met, so it would make sense for something more to happen between them.
5 Hiyori Understands Zoro
To some, Hiyori is a good manipulator who takes advantage of others, but the reality is she is kind and compassionate, especially to those who assist her. It was only natural for her to nurse Zoro back to health after he saved her from an assassin. Hiyori and Zoro have a unique understanding of each other's ways of life considering he is a swordsman, and she is the daughter of a samurai. They are both proud people who gain a deep respect for each other. Hiyori even gifted her father's sword to Zoro, showing her trust in him. If love were to bloom between the two of them, they would make quite the match.
4 Perona Has A Soft Spot For Zoro
Besides the members of the straw hat crew, Penora is someone Zoro spent a significant amount of time with. During the time skip, Zoro lived on Kuraigana Island with Mihawk and Penora while he trained. When Perona first discovered an injured Zoro, she initially only helped him because he was the only other person on the island. After they gained mutual trust in each other, she became more willing to assist him. She even brought Zoro back to Sabaody Archipelago so he wouldn't get lost. Zoro's relationship with Penora is probably the most tumultuous, but there is clearly trust and understanding underneath it all.
3 Sanji And Zoro Are Rivals and Best Friends
Sanji and Zoro ague often. They are fierce rivals and compete with each other on every little thing. If their bounties change, Zoro will compare his to Sanji's and comment on how much higher his bounty is.
Despite their disagreements, they understand each other better than any other member of the Straw Hat crew. Although he likes to deny it, Zoro deeply cares for Sanji's safety. Zoro didn't want Sanji to fight alone when he was a stowaway on the Puffing Tom and he was caught standing outside Pekom's door by Luffy.
2 Zoro And Kikunojo Understand Each Other's Beliefs
As fellow swordsmen, Kikunojo and Zoro have a lot in common. Like Zoro, she has a strong sense of justice and a need to protect the people she cares for. Even though they haven't known each other for very long, they have a deep understanding of each other. When Kikunojo was being held hostage, Zoro said he would not help her, showing that he understood she was perfectly capable of saving herself. Zoro's strength and Kikunojo's nurturing nature balance each other out, allowing them to both protect and take care of each other.
1 Luffy And Zoro Know Each Other Best
Of all the members of the Straw Hat crew, Luffy and Zoro have known each other the longest. In times of crisis and when it comes to beliefs, Zoro and Luffy are always in sync with each other. For example, Zoro understood why Luffy didn't want to fight Bellamy in Mock Town, and during the Arabasta Arc, Zoro was the first to understand why Luffy wanted to fight Crocodile. They both respect each other's strengths and blindly trust each other's judgment. When it comes down to it, Zoro is willing to follow Luffy anywhere.