Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was formed in 1920 by the merger of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police (RNWMP), founded in 1873, with the Dominion Police founded in 1868. The former was originally named the North West Mounted Police (NWMP), and was given the "Royal" prefix by King Edward VII in 1904. Much of the present-day organization's symbolism has been inherited from its days as the NWMP and RNWMP, including the distinctive Red Serge uniform, paramilitary heritage, and mythos as a frontier force. The RCMP-GRC wording is protected under the Trade-marks Act.
Despite its name, the RCMP is no longer an actual mounted police force, with horses only being used at ceremonial events. The predecessor NWMP and RNWMP had relied on horses for transport for most of their history, though the RNWMP was switching to automobiles at the time of the merger.
North-West Mounted Police in popular media
The Canadian North-West Mounted Police had a prominent role in popular media from the late 19th century onwards. The North-West Mounted Police (NWMP), founded in 1873, were initially viewed with scepticism by the press, but soon became portrayed in media and fictional accounts as courageous, disciplined and chivalrous, displaying a sense of fair-play as they brought their suspects to justice. In the 20th century, over 250 films were made about the force, along with radio and television portrayals.