Sun Pirates

Built around freed fish-man slaves, this crew answered first to Fisher Tiger and afterward to Jinbe, who would go on to hold a seat among the Seven Warlords of the Sea. The group is sometimes called the Fish-Man Pirates. Eleven years before the present story it fractured into three separate bands: Jinbe's continuing Sun Pirates, Arlong's revived crew, and the outfit Macro assembled. A government pardon protected them while Jinbe carried his Warlord title, but the deal collapsed once he surrendered it, and they eventually placed themselves under the Emperor Big Mom until Jinbe broke away to sail with Luffy.

What set the crew apart was its emblem. Rather than a typical skull, the Jolly Roger is a plain red sun, matching a mark inked onto every sailor. For the founding members that brand erased the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon scar that marked them as property of the Celestial Dragons. Even recruits who had never been enslaved received the same sun, so authorities could not single out former captives or reclaim them for lack of proof.

Composed entirely of fish-men, the crew carried fearsome physical power and earned a legendary reputation. Under Fisher Tiger, who famously stormed Mary Geoise and liberated the World Nobles' slaves, they brushed aside the Marines sent to stop them. After Tiger died on Foolshout Island following a betrayal by the very people whose child he had returned home, leadership passed to Jinbe. He accepted a Warlord seat so his comrades could safely return to Fish-Man Island, then disbanded the original body into three pieces, draining its numbers as Arlong and Macro took their own followers elsewhere.

When Jinbe gave up his Warlord standing during the clash at Marineford, the pardon evaporated and the crew became wanted again. Allying with the Big Mom Pirates let them operate freely under the Emperor's protection, and the giant fish-man Wadatsumi later signed on. At Sanji's wedding the Sun Pirates severed ties with Big Mom, held off a far larger enemy fleet long enough to cover the Straw Hats' retreat from Cacao Island, and saw their captain leave to join Luffy's crew for good.

Fisher Tiger founded the band and built its first vessel, the Snapper Head, refusing to kill even as he warred against humanity. Jinbe rose to second captain and later a Warlord seat. Arlong sailed with them before splitting off in bitterness over Tiger's death, while Macro, Gyaro, and Tansui departed to peddle kidnapping and slave trading. First mate Aladine stayed loyal and wed Big Mom's daughter Charlotte Praline, who then joined the ranks alongside Wadatsumi. The crew also briefly carried the freed child Koala, whom Tiger marked with the sun to convince her she was truly liberated, and counted Hatchan among its number until the splits scattered the group.