Mounties

The informal name for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada's police force, which operates on both the federal and provincial levels. The force was founded in 1873, and the troops who served during its early periods rode horses to patrol large territories. These mounted troops were known for mediating, in a relatively peaceful manner, conflicts between members of the First Nations and white settlers. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is famous for its formal uniform of bright red jackets and wide-brimmed ranger hats, a dress uniform they still wear today.