Exact solutions of the nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic equations for a highly conducting fluid within an axisymmetric container are obtained. Attention is focused on fluids in which the unperturbed velocity and magnetic field are axially symmetric and purely zonal. It is shown that there are exact solutions with large amplitude but restricted form, indicating that an arbitrary disturbing force produces other motions as well as Alfve´n waves propagating along an azimuthal magnetic field whose strength varies with radius.