Are Horns the Source of unicorn/Alicorn magic, or the conduit?

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Is the horn of a Unicorn or an Alicorn responsible for generating their magic, or do they draw the magic from within the pony and focus it through the horn? I am inclined to believe the latter since all ponies have magic but Earth ponies cannot use theirs in the same way Pegesi, unicorns and Alicorns can.

 

Pegesi seem to channel theirs through their wings but are limited in applications of said magic in comparison to horns, favoring mobility over versatility . Earth ponies like Pinkie seem to have random bursts of full body discarges that allow for floating, elevated strength, increased speed, and other more physical applications. Others like the Zebra Zecora seem to be able to focus their reserves of magic without wings or horns, seemingly through training and meditation.

 

What are your thoughts on this?

 

As with all my topics: If the only thing you have to say is to point out that it is a kid show, do not bother posting. It impedes conversation and is a fact we are all aware of

[Abia 258]

I think you're right-- Unicorns have a unique way to express their magic, but will still have magic even if they are unable to use their horns.

 

Compare it to Twilight Sparkle effected by poison joke-- she still has magical ability, but has no use of her horn. She's unable to put her magic into action, but she still has her cutie mark and she's still the Element of Magic, even with her horn out of order.

[I used to be a stranger 7,994]

In my headcanon, spells and horns are just conduits, and the actual substance of magic are actually highly complex immaterial particles which interact with subatomic particles to cause physical effects and changes. Their most commonly shown behavior is causing momenta to occur in matter, which manifests as telekinesis, or the generation of heat.

 

All life in Equestria could interact with these 'magic particles' to an extent...

But to what degree depends upon the ability of the user, and the 'magic particles' in question are compliant to the spell-user's directives. Many spells are simply innate to the genes of the user, which is why pegasi can walk on clouds, or how earth ponies are in tune to nature, without even being consciously aware of these abilities.

 

There are also 'free' magic particles that are chaotic and will not obey any directive given by any spell user.

Well, almost any user.

Edited September 5, 2014 by Blue

[~ Dr. Ocsid ~ 690]

Well, when Tirek took away the unicorn's magic, their cutie marks vanished and they got some sort of trauma.

This didn't happen when Discord took away Twilight's and Rarity's horns.

Therefore,the horns are not the source. 

Neither are the cutie marks, because blank-flank unicorns are able to use magic to some extent.

[Fractured 2,684]

Magic comes from within the body itself. Horns are just one way of channeling it that unicorns are so used to that they don't know another way. There's other ways to make magic aside from being a unicorn,though.
Isn't there, Zecora?

[TheJLeeTeam 914]

I think magic comes from the heart and the horn is used to control it.

[Koukatsu 5,899]

This is an interesting thought. I agree with Shimmer5000, that magic is something born from within the ponies.

It's like being right handed. Your hand knows what to do the more you do it. At my age, it's been nigh 26 years that is has obediently followed every command.

Were I to suddenly lose my hand for whatever reason, I'd be left handed, and my entire way of writing would be altered, I'd have to learn to right all over again from nothing.

So, without their horns, it's plausible that they COULD still use magic, but that it would take just as long, if not longer, to learn to channel it through another means.

[Cwanky 17,602]

They seem far more like conduits, considering every time a spell is cast the aura and energy seem to concentrate around the horn.

 

Exhibit A:

 

 

Notice that Tirek also shares this ability with an alicorn like Twilight. They also seem to be a way of focusing the energy like a transformer, the user himself is the power plant. We also see see that magic as with Tirek can be channeled elsewhere like through the arms, like Zecora or his mouth when draining others' powers.

 

At least so far ponies seem to be limited as to how they can manifest and channel the type of magic that unicorns and alicorns directl y use. But this doesn't mean that the energy is the source. We've seen in the other races that other forms of magic, like the pegasi and earth ponies, manifests in more subtle ways. It may just be that unicorns never learned to channel magic via different means because using their horns is such an efficient and convenient technique, albeit with many downsides.

[CheeryFox 23,822]

I believe no horn, no magic. The unicorn/alicorn being itself only dictates the magic. Even with a lack of synergy -- maybe a unicorn/alicorn could still produce magic in a limited way. 

[Buck Testa 5,505]

In my headcanon, spells and horns are just conduits, and the actual substance of magic are actually highly complex immaterial particles which interact with subatomic particles to cause physical effects and changes. Their most commonly shown behavior is causing momenta to occur in matter, which manifests as telekinesis, or the generation of heat.

 

All life in Equestria could interact with these 'magic particles' to an extent...

But to what degree depends upon the ability of the user, and the 'magic particles' in question are compliant to the spell-user's directives. Many spells are simply innate to the genes of the user, which is why pegasi can walk on clouds, or how earth ponies are in tune to nature, without even being consciously aware of these abilities.

 

There are also 'free' magic particles that are chaotic and will not obey any directive given by any spell user.

Well, almost any user.

That is a pretty nifty head canon! So If I am understanding this right you believe magic is ambient, not only residing within ponies but all around them. That would be plausable but wouldnt they still be able to do things after Tirek drained them (assuming I understand your point right, if not correct me)? According to what I have seen they seem to hold varying levels of magical energy within themselves depending on the pony.

[Malinter 3,064]

For unicorns, they express their magic through the horn which gives them the most control over 'magic' of the 3 tribes.

 

For a pegasus, its in their wings which grants them flight regardless of their body size and the passive ability to walk on clouds.

 

Earth ponies do have magic within them that gives them the strength they need to work the land. However, if Zecora is any indication, it does seem possible Earth ponies might be able to access it. Its probably just never occurred to them to try.

Edited September 5, 2014 by Shire Pony Malinter

[Invincible 2,092]

I think like all other kinds of ponies, their magic lays deeper than in their horns. So in regards to the question - yeah, they're probably a conduit.

[Nature's Spell 526]

It seems pretty clear from the show that their magic is innate and tied to their cutie mark in someway, but there is a problem with the magic/ cutie mark link. Sweetie Belle, in Twilight Time, was able to perform magic even without a cutie mark. So either the writers forgot about that or there's something more complex going on.

Edited September 5, 2014 by Nature's Spell