{{Short description|Fictional aerial performance team from My Little Pony}} {{Infobox organization | name = The Wonderbolts | image = Wonderbolts_making_an_appearance_S1E16.png | caption = The Wonderbolts as they appear in "[[Sonic Rainboom]]" | formation = | type = Elite aerial aerobatics team | headquarters = [[Cloudsdale]] | membership = [[Pegasus|Pegasi]] | leader_title = Captain | leader_name = {{plainlist| * [[List_of_My_Little_Pony:_Friendship_Is_Magic_characters#Cloudsdale_characters|Spitfire]] * [[Rainbow Dash]] (finale)}} | parent_organization = | affiliations = [[Equestria]]n Royal Guard | website = }} {{My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic sidebar}} '''The Wonderbolts''' are a fictional elite aerial aerobatics team that appears in the [[My Little Pony (2010 toyline)|fourth incarnation]] of [[Hasbro]]'s ''[[My Little Pony]]'' toyline and [[media franchise]], beginning with ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' (2010–2019). They are a performance team and military unit within [[Equestria]] and are known for their precision flying and aerial stunts.
The Wonderbolts are depicted as the most prestigious flying team in Equestria, composed entirely of [[pegasus|pegasi]] who demonstrate exceptional aerial skills and athleticism. Based in the cloud city of [[Cloudsdale]], they perform at major events throughout [[Equestria]] while also serving [[military]] and [[rescue]] functions when needed. The team is led by Captain [[#Members|Spitfire]]. Joining the Wonderbolts is the ultimate dream for aspiring pegasus athletes, most notably [[Rainbow Dash]], who eventually achieves her goal of becoming a member in the [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic season 4|seventh season]] episode "Newbie Dash".
==Appearances== {{Expand section|date=June 2025}} ===Fourth ''My Little Pony'' incarnation (2010–2021)=== ====''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''==== {{Main|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic season 1{{!}}Friendship Is Magic season 1|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic season 2{{!}}Season 2|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic season 3{{!}}Season 3|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic season 4{{!}}Season 4|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic season 5{{!}}Season 5|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic season 6{{!}}Season 6|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic season 7{{!}}Season 7|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic season 8{{!}}Season 8|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic season 9{{!}}Season 9}} The Wonderbolts first appear in the series premiere during the Summer Sun Celebration, performing aerial stunts for the crowd in Cloudsdale. Throughout the first season, they are established as Rainbow Dash's idols and her ultimate career aspiration. They make notable appearances at events such as the Best Young Flyer competition, where Rainbow Dash first gains their attention by performing a Sonic Rainboom.
The team's role expands throughout the series as Rainbow Dash pursues her dream of joining them. She is eventually accepted into the Wonderbolts Academy in season three, becomes a member of the Wonderbolts Reserves in season four, and achieves full membership in season six. The show explores the team's training methods, hierarchy, and both their performance and military responsibilities. By the series finale, Rainbow Dash has become the captain of the Wonderbolts, fulfilling her lifelong ambition.
====''My Little Pony: The Movie''==== {{Main|My Little Pony: The Movie (2017 film)}} The Wonderbolts appear briefly in the film during the Storm King's invasion of Canterlot, where they attempt to defend the city alongside other Equestrian forces before being overwhelmed by the enemy's superior numbers and magic.
== Members == {{Expand section|date=September 2025}} * '''Spitfire''' (voiced by [[Nicole Oliver]] in the episode "[[Sonic Rainboom]]" and Kelly Metzger in all other appearances), a "spirited competitor" and "no-nonsense instructor" at the Wonderbolts' training academy.<ref>{{harvp|Snider|2013|p=34}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Snider|2013|p=200}}</ref> * '''Soarin'''' (voiced by [[Matt Hill]]) is Spitfire's second-in-command. * '''[[Rainbow Dash]]''' (voiced by [[Ashleigh Ball]]) a [[Mane Six|main character]] who has the goal of joining the Wonderbolts at the beginning of the series. She joins the Wonderbolts as a trainee in "[[Wonderbolts Academy]]", becomes a reservist in "[[Testing Testing 1, 2, 3]]", and then a full-time member in "Newbie Dash". * '''Fleetfoot''' (voiced by [[Andrea Libman]]) * '''Thunderlane''' (voiced by [[Trevor Devall]]) * '''Blaze''' (voiced by [[Tabitha St. Germain]]) * '''Wind Rider''' (voiced by [[Jan Rabson]]), a retired Wonderbolt who frames Rainbow Dash in "[[Rarity Investigates!]]" in order to protect his flight speed record.
== Development == [[File:Blue_Angels_Delta.jpg|thumb|Delta "6 Plane Formation" of [[The Blue Angels]], the inspiration for the Wonderbolts]] According to show creator [[Lauren Faust]], the Wonderbolts were designed by her husband [[Craig McCracken]], the creator of ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelist.com/653550/the-truth-about-my-little-ponys-mane-6/|website=[[TheList.com]]|title=the Truth About My Little Pony's Mane 6|first=Miama|last=Mastrangelo|date=2021-11-07|access-date=2025-06-03}}</ref> The Wonderbolts were inspired by the [[Blue Angels]]; they both share the same blue and gold color scheme and past Wonderbolts uniforms resemble historic [[Air Force]] uniforms.<ref>{{harvp|Begin|2015|p=90}}</ref> According to writer [[Amy Keating Rogers]], the name of the Wonderbolts' founder, General Firefly, is a tribute to Faust's online username "fyre-flye", in turn named after the "G1" toy Firefly.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=KeatingRogers|number=456220157229010945|title=[Amy Keating Rogers on General Firefly's name]|last=Rogers|first=Amy Keating|date=April 15, 2014|access-date=November 12, 2015}}</ref>
== Reception and analysis == In her 2016 study on [[military bronies]] ([[military service]] members who are fans of ''My Little Pony'', also known as ''[[bronies]]''), Maria Patrice Amon described the Wonderbolts as an [[Equestria|Equestrian]] version of real-world military flight demonstration units like the Blue Angels. Amon described the Wonderbolts' uniforms, which borrow [[military uniform]] motifs in their design, as "a rare tool of unification" in a world where each pony is highly individualized through their [[cutie marks]] and color combinations. Amon also wrote that some military bronies use their official military uniforms as part of their Wonderbolts [[cosplay]], which she described as a form of unintentional "masculine innocence."<ref>{{cite journal|last=Amon|first=Maria Patrice|title=Candy coloured ponies and pastel uniforms: Military Bronies and masculine innocence|journal=Journal of Fandom Studies|volume=4|issue=1|year=2016|pages=89–104|doi=10.1386/jfs.4.1.89_1|publisher=Intellect Ltd}}</ref>
== See also == * [[Rainbow Dash]] * [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom|''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' fandom]] * [[List of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic characters|List of ''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' characters]] * [[Military bronies]]
==References== {{reflist}}
===Bibliography=== * {{cite book|last=Begin|first=Mary Jane|date=2015|title=My Little Pony: The Art of Equestria|location=New York|publisher=Abrams|isbn=978-1-4197-1577-8}} * {{cite book|last=Snider|first=Brandon T.|date=2013|title=The Elements of Harmony: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: The Official Guidebook|location=New York|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|isbn=978-0-316-24754-2}} * {{cite book |last=Blue |first=Jen A. |title=My Little Po-Mo: Unauthorized Critical Essays on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Season One|pages=39–44|date=2013-08-31}}
{{My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic}} {{My Little Pony}}
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