The structure of the title compound, (C(10)H(10)N(3))(2)[ZnCl(4)], is composed of C(10)H(9)N(3)H(+) (DPAH(+)) cations and [ZnCl(4)](2-) anions. The two pyridyl rings of DPAH(+) are approximately coplanar, with a dihedral angle of 7.2 (2)° between their corresponding least-squares planes. The proton is disordered in a one-to-one ratio over the two chemically equivalent pyridyl N atoms. An intra-molecular hydrogen bond is formed between the pyridinium H atom and the pyridyl N atom of the other pyridyl ring. The Zn atom lies on a twofold rotation axis. There are also some weak N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds. These inter-actions lead to the formation of an alternating zigzag chain in the solid state. The results clearly show that reducing agents normally used in hydro-thermal syntheses, such as metallic zinc employed here, are also active in terms of coordination chemistry.