The Buffalo

MIGHT: 3/5

RARITY- 2/5 (However, due to recent impacts on the Buffalo's territory, this may be increased to 3/5 in the next few years)

Syncerus Caffer

Written by Merc the Jerk

The Equestrian Buffalo is a remarkably robust and powerfully built species. Classed as one of the Bovine, the average male stands at least a head taller than even the largest of Earth Ponies, boasting a impressive set of horns and a top heavy appearance, they are capable of great feats of strength, speed, and endurance. Though generally peace loving, they will hold their ground when provoked, and, due to their honorific nature, will not rest if an injustice is caused to their people.

Brief History, and the future of the species:

The Buffalo are a proud race that at one point reigned over all of the southern and western tips of Equestria's border - the badlands, the Macintosh hills and the Palomino desert were all buffalo territory, and the largest tribe had a member count of approximately thirty thousand. males and females were treated as equals within the society, but were given specific roles. males were hunter gatherers, scouts and soldiers, defending the tribe and responsible for locating the best watering holes and feeding grounds around the season. Females were in charge of food preparation and general domestic duties, but could become scouts and hunters if they so wished.  During this time, lead by the brave warrior Chieftain Inukchuk, the Buffalo roamed the desert lands as hunter/gatherers, finding many of the oasis stops used by travelers to this very day, and waging war with tribes of griffons and diamond dogs who were foolish enough to dare to enter their territory.

It was during the last 200 years when change occurred. As the three pony tribes of the newly found "Equestria" expanded at a shockingly rapid rate to encompass the whole continent. The Buffalo found themselves more and more often at odds with Celestia's children. The dispute over land led to several skirmishes between frontier ponies and the native Buffalo. The battle of big little horn, and the wounded hoof incident being the most well known battles of the war. After years of lives lost on either side, a compromise was found in the frontier town of Appleoosa, where Braeburn Apple, with the help of several unidentified ponies, fought for peace between the two races. Eventually, through many arguments, spats, and conflicts, there came coexistence between the two. The buffalo were promised that their territory in the Macintosh hills would not be intruded upon, as long as the buffalo tribes did not trespass on the pony borders that would stretch from the Badlands to Ponyville.

The truce has been running until the present day, with each species jealously protecting their borders with an unblinking eye.

However, another trial faces the noble creatures, thanks to the encroaching Earth Ponies and modernization occurring in their land. Species mingling is occurring between the Buffalo and Ponies. While not wrong in its own right, this has led to a decrease in the pureblood Buffalo population, and it is a well known fact that cross breeding between the two creatures results almost exclusively in Earth Ponies of unusual size and strength, rather than a hybrid species. It is due to this recessive DNA trait that true Buffalo may eventually become a rarity to find, as Ponies and Buffalo continue to intermingle.