Western civilization ends, not with a bang...

... but with a whinny:

The latest incarnation of Hasbro's My Little Pony empire has generated buzz among an unexpected fan base: grown men.

So what if the target demographic for the television show and toys featuring brightly colored, sparkly equines is 6- to 12-year-old girls?

The nationwide contingent of men who call themselves "bronies" say they're man enough to admit they love "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic," The Hub television network's newest generation of the children's brand first popularized in the 1980s.

"Just because it's a kids' cartoon show doesn't mean it's not entertaining," says Jacob Schultz, a 20-year-old self-professed brony from Eagle Creek. "Ignoring the fact that they're colorful ponies, they have a good story and characterization behind them."

Schultz is part of a Portland-based group of bronies that recently began meeting to share their passion. The group's latest endeavor, July's "Northwest Bronyfest," attracted 80 My Little Pony enthusiasts -- mostly men, plus a handful of women -- for a two-day celebration of bronyism.

The Romans were conquered, or at least finished off, by barbarians on horses. Will we succumb to the "My Little Pony empire"? Whoa... (ht: Iowa Hawk).