Can Unicorn horns grow back?

[Zoraxe 546]

I think they would, say if Twilight broke her horn I think she wouldn't be able to do magic for a bit but it would grow back.

[SBaby 660]

This is actually a more interesting subject than one might think, especially since I have a feeling that we might actually get an answer to this question at some point.

[HereComesTom 2,246]

I'm expecting this is true, too, but it'd probably be a matter of months before a horn grew back.

 

I mean, remember how Rarity's horn was filed a little in the Green Isn't Your Color episode in season 1?  I don't think a spa would do that with a unicorn's horn if the horn wouldn't grow back...or that they'd need to in the first place unless horns grew in general.

[Zygen 6,065]

A very interesting question, and honestly I don't know that much information to say whether it would grow back or not is present currently.

 

I would hope it would, because otherwise that is quite a tragic injury.

 

but I feel like it would somehow grow back or something, considering how important it is for Unicorns. 

 

But again, we don't really know. Although, I am quite curious now. We need an episode to cover something like this ;p.

[Adash 193]

I would probably say no.  It probably wouldn't grow back on its own but maybe somepony can cast a spell to have it grow back

[PoisonClaw 8,154]

This is actually a good question, but I would have to say it depends on the injury. If it was only fractured or cracked, I could see it slowly healing, but casting would likely be dangerous or unpredictable while it was healing. If it was outright broken off at the base (which I can only imagine would be the single most painful thing a unicorn could experience) then it wouldn't grow back. Most animals with horns or antlers don't grow them back if they're broken afterall.

[ZeroTwo 64]

I mean, remember how Rarity's horn was filed a little in the Green Isn't Your Color episode in season 1?  I don't think a spa would do that with a unicorn's horn if the horn wouldn't grow back...or that they'd need to in the first place unless horns grew in general.

 

I like this guy's point. The growing process is probably extremely slow though.

[CosmicHooves 2,705]

Hmm... interesting theory.

*picks up bonesaw*

Hey Twilight! Get over here!

[Fhaolan 4,468]

I'm with @@HereComesTom, in that we see them filing the horn at one point, and they would not do that if it wasn't capable of growing. How quickly it grows is another question.

 

... And if they file them, then it's part of their standard of beauty. I wonder if they were filing for roughness, indicating that the surface itself was being damaged from daily use, or to sharpen/dull it?

[Celli 4,335]

Interesting question, though I wouldn't really say for sure, as none have ever lost their horn (Return of Harmony doesn't count)

[The Crimson Cross 7,532]

Is it possible to grow back? Or is it even possible to break to begin with?

 

Well, I for one would have to say that there'd be some magical cure that's either a spell or one of Zecora's secret remedies.

[Zoraxe 546]

It could make for an interesting episode, 'Twilight breaks her horn and must go without magic until it grows back'.

[boiteporte 591]

Well, if she breaks her horn entirely, I don't think it would grow back.

It's like a nail really. A nail grows on its own. However, if you completely tear the nail off (including the base), then it will not grow back. At least not the way it used to be. 

 

Which is why you need to go to hospital to have it sewn back on.

[Zoraxe 546]

Well, if she breaks her horn entirely, I don't think it would grow back.

It's like a nail really. A nail grows on its own. However, if you completely tear the nail off (including the base), then it will not grow back. At least not the way it used to be. 

 

Which is why you need to go to hospital to have it sewn back on.

 

I think the horn would grow back regardless in the MLP universe, its magic after all.

[Red Cedar 1,408]

I suspect they do, like fingernails or hooves. They may, however, have difficulty in doing magic if their horn is broken.

[ScribbleSquabble 61]

If they are anything like horns from mammals here, the horn is likely Keratin/Proteins surrounding a live bone. So in this instance, one might be able to re-attach it surgically, or if just the tip was broken it would grow back. This may also support evidence provided by HereComesTom:

 

 

I'm expecting this is true, too, but it'd probably be a matter of months before a horn grew back.

 

I mean, remember how Rarity's horn was filed a little in the Green Isn't Your Color episode in season 1?  I don't think a spa would do that with a unicorn's horn if the horn wouldn't grow back...or that they'd need to in the first place unless horns grew in general.

[Darker 1,351]

Magic doesn't grow back from nothingness. It can't reappear without reason.

[Gary S. 102]

Yup. Like Hellboy's horns.

[Cwanky 17,479]

Well if they did, the macros would be on them like crazy in Runescape.

 

Anti-poison doesn't come cheap you know.

[Buck Testa 5,503]

Well horns do not grow back with natural animals, however Equestrians are anything but natural so I think they probably can grow back if broken.

[Twilight The Creator 298]

This is assuming they can be broken off without dark or very powerful magic.

I'd say yes. Why the hell not? It's Equestria, anything can happen.

[Malinter 3,064]

Shining Armour had crystaline growths running though his and that cleared up nicely.

 

Rainbow Dash broke her wing and that recovered, A unicorn's horn probably does grow back though  and probably could even be reattached if severed tho that clearly would need a specialists touch.

[Silver Letter 1,830]

We don't know if they can be broken but I would assume that they grow up to a certain point and do not heal very well. A broken unicorn horn might even be deadly for them. We don't know.

[I used to be a stranger 7,989]

Horns do grow, which is evidenced abundantly.

 

However I seriously doubt a horn can simply be broken off, or even easily cut. We know they're extremely strong, at least in terms of tensile and torquing stress.

[sweetolebob18 724]

Well, episode 2, Twilight charged NMM.  This seems to show horns are at least difficult to damage.  Crystal Empire, Shining Armor was unable to use magic until his horn was cleared.  ICR how well Twilight could cast magic with a floppy horn in Bridle Gossip.

 

Still, if the horn was broken off at the root, it might take a LONG time to regrow, if it even could.  Hair doesn't regrow if the live root is killed, that is how those hair removal devices work.