Superelastic alloy

A superelastic alloy containing Au in an amount of 8.0% by mass or more and 20.0% by mass or less, Ta in an amount of 9.0% by mass or more and 20.0% by mass or less, either Cr or Mo as additive elements, and Ti and inevitable impurities as a balance, wherein

• a Cr equivalent calculated on a basis of Formula 1 for a relationship of a Cr content, a Mo content and a Ta content is within the range of more than 0.5 and less than 8.0;
• Cr equivalent=[Cr content (% by mass)]+([Mo content (% by mass)]/1.7)+([Ta content (% by mass)]/15) [Formula 1]
• and wherein the superelastic alloy contains Ti3Au and Ta3Au intermetallic compounds and has a superelastic shape recovery ratio of 50% or more calculated on a basis of Formula 2 when subjected to a tension test and unloaded residual strain:
• superelastic shape recovery ratio (%)=2% deformation plastic strain (%)−residual strain (%)/2% deformation plastic strain×100 [Formula 2]
• wherein the plastic strain is a value obtained by subtracting an elastic deformation strain from a total deformation strain.