What Should Be Equestria's National Animal?

[Denim&Venöm 16,522]

Different countries have different national animals. America has the bald eagle. Germany has the black eagle. Finland has the brown bear. Pakistan has the snow leopard. Japan has the raccoon dog. Wales has a dragon. Scotland even has a unicorn. 

So what national animal should Equestria have?  

Also bonus points for any discussion on what the national flower should be. 

[Sparklefan1234 161,888]

I think Equestria's national animal should be the Manticore due to them looking both majestic as well as terrifying. Just like the country it represents. 

 

[Odyssey 5,713]

Phoenix, seems like a good symbol for how Equestria has always witshstood the test of time even at apocalyptic situations. Plus they're often associated with the Sun in some mythos, and you can also probably see it as a symbol of hope or e everlasting friendship.

For national flower, how about plumeria? In Buddhism culture, it represents immortality, and in Hawaiian culture, it represents all things positive and new beginnings. 

[Snow 5,305]

Alicorns! more specifically, the two sisters, It's.. already on their flag.

[SharpWit 2,472]

 

 

The phoenix is perfect, whether solar, lunar, or balefire.

As for flowers, something that blooms this time of year regardless of the cold I think would be best. Our Christmas is essentially Equestria's founding day. Something that withstands the cold should be representative of Hearths Warming, and therefore the nation.

[Hierok 11,829]

I really wanted to click Timberwolves, but the Phoenix seems to fit in better...

[Lord Valtasar 12,685]

How about Ponies? it seems to represent them perfectly

As for flowers.. I'd go with Amarilis just because they're awesome and elegant

[Cash In 21,518]

I voted for the Phoenix, as it's both beautiful and strong - like the land itself. I may be a little biased, as a Pheonix was my high school's mascot.

[MangoFoalix 24,898]

A pony!

Yes, I went there.

[OptimisticNeighsayer 471]

Nothing says “Equestrian Patriotism” like the phoenix... except we ought to keep in mind that most ponies are apparently not familiar with the bird. 

Ponies also seem to identify with the natural world more holistically than just associating it with an animal, or even just animals and plants together. If Fluttershy’s remark in “Castle Sweet Castle” means more than a joke, ponies are more self-aware of themselves as part of the natural world, even if they do a lot to manipulate it. 

So in practice, they might use the alicorn for both its natural and political aspects. 

Edited December 26, 2018 by OptimisticNeighsayer

[Denim&Venöm 16,522]

13 hours ago, Snow said:

Alicorns! more specifically, the two sisters, It's.. already on their flag.

 

8 hours ago, Lord Valtasar said:

How about Ponies? it seems to represent them perfectly

As for flowers.. I'd go with Amarilis just because they're awesome and elegant

 

8 hours ago, TwilySparky said:

A pony!

Yes, I went there.

Did you all just call the majestic demi-god princesses and by extension the entirety of equestrian society and civilization a bunch of animals?

 

[Lord Valtasar 12,685]

3 minutes ago, Denim&Venom said:

 

 

Did you all just call the majestic demi-god princesses and by extension the entirety of equestrian society and civilization a bunch of animals?

 

I never said "a bunch"! But yeah. ponies are animals. Being inteligent doesn't stop you from being one. Humans are animals too after all

Which brings me to my second sugestion, what if their national animal was humans? They act like us in many ways(especially that green one)

[Tacodidra 59,804]

Ponies would be my first answer too!

But that would be pretty unlikely so I'll just say hummingbird. Why? Because Hummingway is best bird and pretty much the most adorable little thing ever!

Why even try not to be biased?

[cuteycindyhoney 13,283]

The phoenix is burning up this vote thread! 77.78% have voted for The phoenix!

[MangoFoalix 24,898]

3 hours ago, Denim&Venom said:

Did you all just call the majestic demi-god princesses and by extension the entirety of equestrian society and civilization a bunch of animals?

Yes, yes I did.

[Dashy 4 Ever 4,832]

Probably the Phoenix since Celestia has one as a pet, and because it's just cool itself.

[RDDash 18,867]

I actually think it should be a parasprite, they are a unique and magical. But if I am being serious I think it would be cool if it was Timberwolves

[PacificGreen 1,163]

The pukwudgie.

Or maybe the quarry eel or the Hydra.

[Sepul-Coloratura 756]

Maybe butterflies. I don't know. It just makes sense to me.

[Thrond 3,257]

It's horses. I know that doesn't make sense, I know it seems weird for ponies to have themselves as their national animal, but it's gotta be horses. That's just how it is. 

[Will Guide 21,325]

On 12/25/2018 at 7:55 PM, Snow said:

Alicorns! more specifically, the two sisters, It's.. already on their flag.

While, I voted for Alicorn, there's something I want to say about the flag.

It's implied in the Journal of the Two Sisters defictionialized by Amy Keating Rodgers back in 2014 that the flag wasn't made right after the union/ Founding of Equestria. No, the journal had the Young Celestia and Luna living in the old Royal Castle and pulling a prank on a haughty Unicorn Princess Platinum. The Unicorn Princess apologized and designed the flag. (Since nothing directly contradicts it when it comes to Platinum coming up with the flag, it's okay to treat it as semi-canon. Not iron-clad but still very possible)

All this happened before Celestia and Luna discovered they could move the Sun and Moon without losing their magic after a while, unlike the old way where it took 5 unicorns and Starswirl to do so, at the cost of the unicorns losing their magic. (Which was officially made canon come S8's Horse Play)

Remember that we saw the S2 episode, "Hearth's Warming Eve", it showed a play based on the Founding of Equestria which focused on how the 3 main pony races came together in friendship, defeat the "bringers of endless winter" Windegos, and bringing warmth back to the land.

It may have shown the flag at the end of the play, but that was more like a time skip to when the flag was made, rather than actual proof that the flag was made immediately after. After all, the American flag went through different versions before becoming the flag it is today.

I stated my thoughts on the flag and that the Alicorns are a fair choice.

On 12/26/2018 at 5:03 AM, OptimisticNeighsayer said:

 

Ponies also seem to identify with the natural world more holistically than just associating it with an animal, or even just animals and plants together. If Fluttershy’s remark in “Castle Sweet Castle” means more than a joke, ponies are more self-aware of themselves as part of the natural world, even if they do a lot to manipulate it. 

What exactly did Fluttershy remark in Castle Sweet Castle that warrented such a statement that "ponies are more self-aware of themselves..."? I'm lost.

[OptimisticNeighsayer 471]

1 hour ago, Will Guide said:

What exactly did Fluttershy remark in Castle Sweet Castle that warrented such a statement that "ponies are more self-aware of themselves..."? I'm lost.

“I think you and I are the only [animals] left.” It’s a bit of a stretch, but humans would use that sort of remark in a... different way. 

[Will Guide 21,325]

4 hours ago, OptimisticNeighsayer said:

“I think you and I are the only [animals] left.” It’s a bit of a stretch, but humans would use that sort of remark in a... different way. 

But S5's Castle Sweet Castle is when the Mane 5 were trying to make Twilight's Friendship Castle feel like home.

I think that line actually came from another episode and you might have named the wrong title. Maybe it was S4's "Castle-Mania" where Fluttershy and Rarity went to the castle of the Two Sisters and got frightened by the strange goings-on. 

I could be wrong though

[Rhythm Red 6,484]

Hmmm. Pony.  

In all seriousness though, the Phoenix is perfect, especially since Celestial has a Phoenix and all. There’s a lot of symbolism with the phoenix that can relate to Equestria as a whole.