Small groups of Royal Guards known as Rangers are frequently stationed in frontier settlements far from Canterlot, in order to supplement the local Watch or to perform other tasks such as peacekeeping and protecting transport lines from raiders.
 
Rangers seldom wear the traditional amour of the Guards; enforcement of the dress code is nearly non-existant, and heavy plate and mail are ill suited to life in the frontier. Rangers tend to have strong, colourful personalities and readily integrate themselves into the local population. These same traits makes it difficult to return Rangers to regular regimented service (“Once a Ranger, always a Ranger”).