Equestria Does Not Have A Military

[Denim&Venöm 20,359]

I attended a Bronycon panel called 'You and what army?' It was headed by F.O.B. Equestria and analyzed whether or not Equestria had a military force. And what I got out of that panel was that it didn't. The WonderBolts are more of a public service group tasked w/ clearing the weather, performing at stunt shows but only acting in a defensive capability should the situation arise, in a way, a cross between the blue angels and the national guard.  Out of all the dangers Equestria has faced, we've only seen them appear twice (Spikezilla and Tirek). The royal guard doesn't really count either, since we've only seen them when the princesses are around. So the royal guard functions more like the secret service. We haven't even seen a police force in Equestria outside of Read it and Weep, and that may have been private security or an orderly. 

 

If you count the comics as cannon, in the Celestia micro series issue, a flashback reveals Celestia and what appears to be a civilian militia defending Canterlot, not a uniformed military force. The theory was brought up that all ponies in Equestria are registered as part of a draft and get called to service in times of need, similar to Israel and how most of their populace has military training. 

 

There is evidence that Equestria had a military and has been involved in confrontations. The Pegasus tribe has been shown fighting some unknown enemy in Hearths warming eve. Canterlot, or at least the castle, was built w/ defense in mind.

It is built on the side of a mountain, surrounded by other mountains, overlooking terrain where troops may cross, with a moat encircling the entrances and waterfalls narrowing the number of places to climb. It would be very difficult for ground based armies to effectively assault Castle Canterlot.  

 

One explanation for why we no longer see a standing military or military in only a ceremonial regard, is due to the scope of threats Equestria now faces. I mean just look at the enemies we've seen. Nightmare Moon, former diarch, can control the moon and change her state of matter, possibly influence dreams. Discord, master of reality, skilled at mind alteration. Queen Chrysalis and the changeling hive, who can shapeshift and infiltrate, feeding off emotion, and are proven skilled enough to overcome the guard as demonstrated in Canterlot wedding pt.2. Sombra, who can also change physical states, restrict magic use though crystals and alter memory though curses. Last but not least, Tirek, who can gain power by stripping ponies of magic and can open portals to other realms. Add to the fact that we've never seen the guard save Ponyville from the parasprite swarm, Trixie's annexation, or the plunder plant infestation and makes you wonder what the guard or even the Wonderbolts are there for.

 

The brevity of threats Equestria faces and the solutions implemented to stop them such as the Elements of Harmony, the Crystal heart or the Rainbow Keys, may have rendered a conventional military or even conventional warfare as a whole obsolete. Kinda like the power rangers and how they are left to defeat the giant monsters. 

 

What are your thoughts?

 

 

 

[GhostPony750 959]

Imagine if Obama could destroy any physical forces with magic. Like Obama is a lvl 100 Arceus you received in a trade and the ennemy is Joey with its Rattata.

 

There would be no need for any army at all. It would probably remain just for a symbol or tradition.

[Mae Borowski 356]

Imagine if Obama could destroy any physical forces with magic. Like Obama is a lvl 100 Arceus you received in a trade and the ennemy is Joey with its Rattata.

 

There would be no need for any army at all. It would probably remain just for a symbol or tradition.

 

if obama had magic, wed be screwed more than we already are...and yes i do not like Barack Odumba

[Pixel Media 25]

Twilight with the other 5 have single handily saved Equestria on many occasions. Twilight has also stopped a lot of things herself alone(I mean she got promoted to the Princess of FRIENDSHIP!) I don't think they need an army with such powerful friends. Friendship is magic, remember and magic kicks some serious ass(no offense to you, Cranky Doodle.)

In the event of something that Equestria would need to get involved in(I think on several occasions they mention the realm or something of the sort, like Equestria is just a country and there is an entire world out there) then they would be screwed I suppose.

[LZRD WZRD 1,929]

Does the royal guard not count as military?

 

Regardless, Equestria sure needs one. Or at least some more security guards or police or something. I mean, how did Chrysalis sneak an entire army right up to Canterlot? And how did nobody notice Tirek escaped Tartarus? Like, nobody checks on the prisoners there? Don't they have to feed them or something?

Edited August 8, 2014 by LZRD WZRD

[1111 1,284]

regardless my mind is blown so its a civilin militia because a mlilitary would cause problems ironic why even build a army when you could just jack theres.i could of sworn i saw a barrek or somthing 

[Commissar Alexer 763]

Well, if shit hits the fan they could always hire some mercenaries....if they exist.

 

Besides, ponies don't appear to me like fighters (real life horses would rather run away) and those spear don't really look that effective.

[Fractured 2,684]

From what we've seen, Celestia and Luna, Cadence, and Twilight Sparkle themselves are powerful enough that fighting plain wars against other countries is beneath them. The things that threaten them are too strong for a military force, so it's more likely the guards are there for civil threats, like small crime and crazy ponies who think it'd be smart to lay their hands on the princesses.

[Malinter 3,064]

Besides, ponies don't appear to me like fighters (real life horses would rather run away) and those spear don't really look that effective.

 

They can be trained to ignore that. Warhorses riden by knights for example.

 

Equestria does have a military but it is probably alot smaller now than it has been in the past. What remains of it exists purely to defend the Princesses. 

 

There's also the fact that Equestria has two standing armies. They Day Guard and the Night Guard.

 

The Night Guard are more active in seeking out threats to Equestria and (no-surprise) operate at night. Luna also actively leads them which was probably common back in the day and is just a tradition she hasn't given up (and a legit reason we almost never see her in the show). The comics imply she leads monster hunts for creatures that may threaten the ponies of outlying regions and possibly be the reason why we never see the Day Guard active outside of Canterlot. The night guard also seems to have more pegesi in there ranks.

 

The Day Guard seem to exist as a purely defensive army in contrast to the Night Guard. Its ranks also seem to have alot more unicorns in it. Which makes sense given Canterlot is mostly a unicorn city and the location of the School for Gifted Unicorns, and naturally the Day Guard probably use defensive spells much like Shining Armour does.

Edited August 9, 2014 by Shire Pony Malinter

[I used to be a stranger 7,994]

I think that Equestria does not have a military, but it does have agencies and organizations which are highly regimented within the control of the Government. It's my headcanon that just like they have the Wonderbolts as a Security Service, they also probably have a Research squadron or division, not unlike the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

 

It can't just go beyond everyone's notice that The Everfree Forest's weather and flora work "all on their own", which would merit curiosity and observation-- for example.

[Orablanco Account 3,707]

I think they do have a military, it's just that they have little to no use of it as of late. The Wonderbolts, though they may be Equestria's Air Force, have nothing to do, so it only makes sense that they'd be regulated to a stunt team/air show type deal.

 

That'd make an interesting plot turn. Dash becomes a Wonderbolt right when a war breaks out and the team has to join the fight.

[Comet Tail 808]

From what I recall, I think throughout much of human history standing armies with professional soldiers have been the exception rather than the rule. More commonly, armies are assembled by the monarchy (or ruling power(s)) as the need arises out of the peasantry of the populace.

 

Iirc, some of the Founding Fathers of the United States were actually opposed to the idea of a standing army, saying it was a waste of resources.

 

So, yeah, it's very likely Equestria doesn't have a "professional army" aside from the royal guard. And no, I don't think the Royal Guard is ceremonial. They were on high alert when Canterlot was threatened. Heck, Twilight had a whole battery of spears pointed at her just for running up and addressing Shining Armor in that episode.

 

Normally, it doesn't seem like there's nearly as many guards, so I think what we saw was reserves being called on. My headcanon is that there's a large national guard-esque reserve of Royal Guards that got activated when the threat against Canterlot was made.

 

 

And in Equestria's defense, the changelings were a huge swarm of flying monsters, so losing against them isn't much of a discredit - they were a powerful enemy, and every other foe Equestria has faced has been so swift in appearing that Equestria had no time to respond.

 

 

Hehe, there is something pretty funny, though, about Celestia and the Royal Guard. Here's the Royal guard, like a military, being all tough and macho, and their highest authority is a gentle, loving motherly figure. It's kind of awesome. I imagine it helps them stay more humane equine that way. When it's just a bunch of macho guys, things can get really crazy and out of hoof, so she probably helps temper that and keep them human pony. I mean, things like hazing can get pretty sick and intense, and the vibe I get is that commanding officers generally turn a blind eye with a "toughen up!" attitude.

 

I somehow have a hard time seeing Celestia letting that fly.

 

But the oddest thing has to be the disparity in-between the macho appearance these guys try to hold, and Celestia's motherly nature.

 

I mean, what are you going to do? She's your supreme commanding authority you're pledged to protect above all else.

 

Edited August 9, 2014 by Comet Tail

[rainbowdashbrony1 130]

Of, course we wonderbolts have an millitary but I also heard that muffin loving pony DDDDerpy Hooves is keeping a top secert lid on it !

So you'd wouldn't want to tell all the ponies in Equestria especially The great and wonderful Trixie ?

[Buck Testa 5,505]

I think we just have not seen a use for a military yet since all the threats have been specialized cases. However if another nation marched against Equestria you may see the standing military in action.

[The Crimson Cross 7,533]

I know you said earlier Royal Guard don't count, Equestria may not have a military per se, but I think that the Royal Guard is supposed to serve that role somehow.. Erm.. Even if they don't do a very good job of it sometimes!

 

I'd bet the Royal Guard gets quite a lot of action, and yet we just don't see it! Who knows, they could be put up to the task when monsters try to attack cities other than Ponyville. I mean there certainly has been quite a few monsters turn up there. 

 

Now, now, now, now... I need to share this masterpiece with you all. Someone mentioned police earlier? Well. Here it is. Half a second of Discord glory all wrapped up nicely in a little Gif:

 

[Jeric 46,880]

Um, are we using a modernist approach to this question about military readiness in Equestria, because an argument can be made that they are equal to 18th and 19th century USA, and many European nations of that time.

 

 

The National Guard is relatively close to what we had back then. So if the panelists said that the WB team is equivalent to the National Guard ... hmmm not sure that helped their argument.

 

So yeah, BronyCon panel confirmed based on that fact that Equestria does have a military.