Equestria


Equestria is a fictional nation used as the primary setting for the films, comics, video games, and animated television series . Equestria hosts many intelligent and sapient creatures; the majority being ponies. Equestria resides on the Equestrian continent on a terrestrial planet, similar to Earth.
Equestria serves as the backdrop for the adventures of Twilight Sparkle and her friends, in their quest to spread the magic of friendship throughout the land. Leading Equestria are four powerful regnant coregency princesses: Celestia, the Princess of the Day; Luna, the Princess of the Night and Dreams; Cadence, the Princess of Love and Family; and Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Magic and Friendship.
Equestria's foundation is described as the result of the cooperation of unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies, who came together in harmony to fight the Wendigos and stop an eternal blizzard; Hearth's Warming Day is an annual holiday that celebrates its founding. The "Bit" is the official currency of Equestria and its territories. Instead of English, it is mentioned that they call their language "Ponish"; however, due to the fact that written English is seen at several times during the series, it is generally understood that this is English under a different name.
Although generally peaceful, Equestria had its share of wars and battles over the centuries, with recent conflicts involving the formerly hostile Changeling Hive, the invading Storm Empire, and the return of the Wendigos; all of which negatively impacting major settlements. Equestria was founded in the Age of Heroes by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna; two sisters ruled as equals until Luna fell to evil and became Nightmare Moon. After a thousand years of banishment, Luna returned and nearly took over the realm, but was soon defeated by that generations' Bearers of Harmony and brought back to her senses, becoming once again the benevolent co-ruler of the nation. After several years of ruling the land, both sisters agreed that their protege, Twilight Sparkle, would succeed them.

History

Pre-Equestrian history

The Founding of Equestria

"Hearth's Warming Eve" describes the founding of Equestria as the result of when the pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies united to defeat the Wendigos and prevent an eternal blizzard.
Six legendary ponies who defended Equestria from many threats and are responsible for creating the Elements of Harmony. By planting the Tree of Harmony, they strived to ensure that future generations could defend Equestria in its darkest hours.
Now of age, Celestia and Luna lead Equestria without the wise counsel of Starswirl, who had mysteriously vanished. While the Sister Princesses were not the first rulers of Equestria, they have ruled Equestria for most of their lifespan. The episode "Hearth's Warming Eve" portrayed them as one of the first rulers of Equestria. Their reign is characterized as benevolent, prosperous, and peaceful.
The "Golden Age of Princess Celestia", as defined in the comics, is the defining point in Equestrian history as marked by Celestia's ruleship; during this era, Equestria transformed itself from an underdeveloped Dark Age feudal kingdom into a superpower with an advanced economy.

After Luna's Banishment

Modern Equestrian history was dominated by a chain of events that heralded significant changes in the nation's history; all of which coincided with three key events.
In modern times, Celestia continues to govern Equestria, adopts Cadence—the first new alicorn in centuries—as her niece, and mentors promising young ponies; her most gifted students were Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle. Due to the efforts of Twilight Sparkle and her friends, Equestria has been enjoying its longest period of prosperity and harmony in recorded history. Centuries of tension between the griffins, ponies, dragons, and changelings peacefully concluded, with all factions becoming unlikely allies.
This is the era most detailed by the main comics, television series, and video games, and is therefore fully canon, according to the show writers.

Year of Luna's Redemption

This time period lasted approximately one year, during which events brought about positive developments: Buffalo and ponies gained an understanding, Dragons and ponies grew friendlier, the citizens of Equestria grew to love Princess Luna instead of fearing her, the Crystal Empire regained its former glory, and many ancient villains were defeated.
The Changeling Wars were a series of persistent conflicts between Equestria and the Changeling Hive, particularly against the Changeling queen, Queen Chrysalis. As masters of psychological manipulation and infiltration tactics with the ability to shapeshift, the changelings are one of Equestria's oldest and greatest threats. Faced with such an asymmetrical enemy, Equestria was forced into fighting an unwinnable irregular warfare and could not bring its full might to bear upon the Queendom, as Chrysalis's throne nullified all magic not of changeling origin.
The era begins almost exactly a year after the return of Princess Luna; this era is notable for the coronation of Princess Twilight Sparkle and the opening of the School of Friendship. This period brought about increases of peace, prosperity, hope and love, as Princess Twilight continued her scientific research and made her diplomatic mission to spread the friendship to every creature in need. Large battles and conflicts against villains were also held during its time period.
Season 4
Season 9
Time magic features prominent as a chekhov's gun on several occasions. Discovered and/or invented by Starswirl, it allowed him to manipulate time and remain ageless. Because using it irresponsible could lead to branches in time or time loops, Celestia outlawed time magic, and all knowledge pertaining to it is held within Starswirl the Bearded Wing of the Canterlot Archives.
In "", several alternate versions of Equestria are depicted as a result of Starlight Glimmer changing history. In the first alternate timeline shown, King Sombra expands the Crystal Empire's borders to cover half of Equestria and the Griffon Kingdom. In the second, Queen Chrysalis and the changelings have conquered Canterlot and forced many ponies into hiding. In the third, Nightmare Moon rules Equestria in eternal night after banishing Celestia to the moon. Further alternate realities include one ruled by Discord, one in which Tirek ravages the land, one in which Flim and Flam bulldoze the Everfree Forest for development, and one in which Equestria is reduced to a barren wasteland. Thanks to Twilight Sparkle's actions, these alternate realities are undone.

Inhabitants

Ponies

Ponies are sapient, quadrupedal, ungulate mammals. Distinguishable from other equine species by their facultative bipedalism, pastel coats/manes/tails, and the picturesque "cutie mark" that appears on their flanks when they find their "Special Talent"... their true purpose in life. The pony species can be further subdivided into six races: earth pony, pegasus pony, unicorn pony, crystal pony, thestral pony, and alicorn pony. Equestrian ponies are amongst of the most influential species in history—having established a powerful nation, Equestria, whose territories included much of the known world at the apex of their civilizations' existence. Other foreign nations known to have been established and/or inhabited by ponies include Saddle Arabia and Maretonia.

Earth Ponies

Pegasus Ponies

Unicorn Ponies

Crystal Ponies

Thestral Ponies

Alicorn Ponies

Non-ponies

In addition to native ponies, Equestria is inhabited by a number of Non-ponies; while ponies make up the clear majority of the Equestrian population, several other sapient species, often ungulates like cattle or the Kirin, also live in Equestria.

Zebras

Dragons

Draconequus

Government

Equestria is originally depicted as a semi-constitutional coregency, ethnostate-principality, eventually becoming a singular monarchy with the abdication of Princesses Celestia and Luna in favor of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Equestrian government, as described in depth by the comic and video game series, has a legislative branch, an executive branch, headed by four monarchs, and a judiciary branch, with judges appointed by region by the monarchs. The main television series, however, rarely delves into political detail on the government of Equestria—despite many principal characters being government officials—beyond its executive branch and the various political officials of the Ponyville and Canterlot townships.
Governance within Equestria's principalities demonstrate an exceptionally high level of stability, organization and communication, even across so sprawling a continent-size domain through the use of extensive ships, railroads and highways, and a postal system of quick supply storehouses, rest stops, and relay stations. Deployment of soldiers, distribution of workers, and transmission of messages could be achieved with tremendous speeds, preventing what might otherwise be a crippling disconnect and disunity throughout the nation.

Princesses of Equestria

The government is currently as of the series finale a matriarchy-monarchy: concentration of sovereignty resides with the current alicorn sovereign princess Twilight Sparkle. Royal linage has been showed to be gained in both meritocratic and hereditary means, whereby some princess have earned their position through "alicorn ascendency", which has been depicted only once in show canon, and only achievable via an act of unprecedented heroism, or the creation of "new magic". Other princesses however have been shown to inherit royal status from parents. Celestia and Luna act as the Heads of State and Government. The exact extent of the Princesses' powers and influence is unknown—other than constitutional limitations Celestia placed upon herself—as the separation of powers distribution between the government branches are never specified.

Princess Celestia

Princess Luna

Princess Cadance

Princess Flurry Heart

Princess Twilight Sparkle

Domestic defense

Equestria is depicted as being a mostly peaceful nation that hasn't experienced war for centuries; aside from a few judicial warships and a core defense force, there was with little need for a large professional military beyond the existing Wonderbolts, who patrols Equestria's air space, and the Royal Guards that protect the Princesses. The previous Changeling Hive conflicts were asymmetrical; a "cold war" where neither belligerents could achieve decisive victory for their side. This state of relaxed peacetime security and vulnerability were recently exploited by the invading Storm Empire, followed by a terrorist attack by villains, which forced Equestria to update their defenses in response.
Equestria first and foremost line of defence falls upon Princess Twilight Sparkle and the Mane 6, who are often called upon to defend Equestria against magical threats. An alternate timeline of the main series showed that the rulers of Equestria may choose to retain command of the armed forces when they are raised.

E.U.P. Guard

E.U.P. Guard of Equestria was formally established in response for Equestria need for a modernized gendarmerie professional standing army and law enforcement on a federal administrative level. The E.U.P. guard were active around the time that the Pony of Shadows abducted Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Under Twilight's rule the E.U.P. guard now includes non-ponies amongst their ranks.
Prior to the formal establishment of the E.U.P. Guard, forerunners were largely decentralized militias or mercenaries. Known military forces that defended various populations in Equestria have included the Cloudsdale Royal Legion and the Mighty Helm. Pre-Equestrian rulers were seen to maintain forces of "guardsponies", with Commander Hurricane and Sable Spirit both maintaining forces of Pegasi and Unicorn guards, respectively.

Royal Guards

The Royal Guards are the pony protectors of Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, and Princess Twilight Sparkle. The royal guard were in operation by the time Nightmare Moon began invading the dreams of ponies after turning the enslaved Nyx into the Nightmare Forces. The Royal Guard themselves have largely proven ceremonial: as any threat that the Alicorn Princesses would have needed protection from have consistently ripped through them—with the Princesses somehow protecting them—and are thus relegated to law enforcement and other mundane matters. After Flash Magnus became a drill sergeant for the guard, these guards-including some mares specified as serving under Princess Luna-were more commonly seen. The current Royal Guardcommander is Shining Armor, Royal Captain of the Guards; Gallus is later promoted to that rank.

Crystal Guard

The Crystal Guard—an E.U.P. guard subdivision—have defended the Crystal Empire for an unknown period of time, dating back at least as far as King Sombra's childhood. Members include Crystal Pegasi, Crystal Earth Ponies, and Crystal Unicorns.

Night Guard

The Night Guard—consisting of "Bat Ponies" aka "Thestral Ponies" —serve as Princess Luna's guards, though they have also been seen in the company of Princess Celestia; in an alternate timeline, several Bat Ponies served as Nightmare Moon's royal guards.

Wonderbolts

The Wonderbolts are an elite unit of Pegasi and serves as the air force division of the Royal Guards of Equestria. The Wonderbolts have a proud military tradition: on the anniversary of the First Celestial year of peace following Nightmare Moon's banishment, General Firefly selected a group of fliers from among the E.U.P. guard to perform at the Summer Sun Celebration. This group would later come to be known as the Wonderbolts. Under Twilight's rule the Wonderbolts now includes non-ponies amongst their ranks. The current Wonderbolt commander is Spitfire, Air Chief Marshal; Rainbow Dash is later promoted to that rank.

National intelligence

Internal existential threats necessitate priority for covert counterintelligence, internal security and anti-monster agencies. Sweetie Drops is the only known pony associated with such organziations.

Foreign relations

Equestria successfully continues, through the diplomatic efforts of Princess Twilight and her friends, to use soft power in forging cultural, political, diplomatic, military and economic cooperation with Griffonstone, Yakyakistan, Hippogriffia/Seaquestria, Maretonia, Saddle Arabia, the reformed Changeling Hive, and the Dragonlands.

Culture

Culturally, Equestria is quite similar to the culture of the anglosphere, reflecting analogies with both the United States and Canada. The foundations of the culture were the principles of harmony, order and friendship; which helps maintain unity within the principalities through adherence culture and identity. Although Equestria encompasses several ethnic groups and cultures, the speedy means which information and orders can be moved throughout the principalities does demonstrate a high capability for maintaining peace and unity.

Holidays, observances and events

Specific events are depicted in the show. Some are regular annual occurrences; others happen more infrequently.

Major events

Equestria is an egalitarian society that has a market economy through which a wide variety of goods and services are bought and sold, both through the use of currency and the barter. Many of the stories focus on the performance of economic tasks: crop harvesting, production of baked goods, and the maintenance of the town.

Technology and magic

Equestrian magic is tightly integrated with Equestrian technology, with the formal study of magic forming a fundamental scientific branch. It is a natural part of the Equestrian world that may be harnessed for useful applications, and continues to influence and shape everyday life in Equestria. Many creatures possess inherent abilities that are magical in nature. Ponies in particular have been shown as having natural magic, each species has a magical trait or quality that are mostly unique to them. Magic aids the pegasi in weather modification, the Earth ponies in resource extraction and agriculture, and aids unicorns with scientific research and in creating useful items that benefit all ponies.
Overall, the level of technology in Equestria varies between early-to-mid 20th century, being chiefly dependent on the population density and economic prosperity of any given settlement. Firearms and other gunpowder-based weaponry are unheard of and is seen as magical. Metallurgy is limited to forging and blacksmiths. Electricity and internal combustion are readily available to all but the most isolated communities. Simple machines such as pulleys and levers are widely used. Warfare, when it occurs, is mostly composed of human wave attacks and close quarters combat. All aspects of life are through machinery that supplements the natural talents of ponykind.
Ideas and concepts such as metallurgy, industrialization, mechanization, interchangeable parts, standardization of production, assembly lines, etc., are both known and depicted throughout every My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic media platform. Mass production on a large scale is available and inexpensive. Natural resources for production such as ores, lumber, textiles, petroleum and other sources, exist in abundance, with the methods of gathering and processing these resources being fast and efficient by Earth Ponies skilled in manual work. Postal service, travel, transport, and communication is relatively fast and efficient despite lacking advanced telecommunication; being limited to walking, flying, carriages, railroads, ships, and word of mouth. Teleportation, while widely known, is an advanced technique beyond most unicorns' ability to execute, and too physically exhausting to be viable. While the Princesses themselves, in effect, have access to "magical Email" this ability is not depicted as readily available or widespread. Medical technology is advanced and sanitary, with modern hospital facilities—staffed by trained medical professionals—being further supplemented with healing magic.
In terms of maritime technology, ships varies from oar and sail in terms of propulsion to advanced steamships with paddle-wheel or screw propellers. Advanced radar, sonar, or GPS are unknown; depiction of navigation is done by the stars and primitive maps and other navigational equipment.
Advancements in the sciences Equestria have achieved has taken decades or even centuries to discover. Magic in Equestria is highly developed as science, causing many useful applications ranging from industries, to combat and civilian applications. Rural or isolated communities products' are hand-crafted by specialists and therefore time-consuming to create. Due to the huge gap in technology level when compared to Equestria, the military, economy and overall standard of living is exceedingly primitive for other nations depicted throughout the franchise. In comparison to Dragonkind's culture, for example, the resulting stagnation of technological advance is enormous.
This abundance of magical technological progress is due largely in part to Equestria's compulsory education system and actual scientific research. By opening Equestria's schools, Twilight hopes to share in Equestria's prosperity gained through knowledge and friendship with the non-pony nations throughout the known world. Chancellor Neighsay and other decouncers cited unsegregated inclusiveness of non-pony creatures as a naive foolish act that inevitably threatens Equestria's national security.

Infrastructure and Industrialization

Equestria is depicted as being a heavily Tier 2 industrialization, with access to early-to-mid 20th century pre-digital technology. Commonly depicted technologies include hard fantasy/steampunk-style steam locomotive rapid transits, zeppelin airships, pegasi-powered commercial passenger aircraft, concrete-steel skyscrapers, analog computers and electric lighting.
The limitations of magic are always explained even if the reason why is unexplained or impossible. Princess Twilight Sparkle frequently researches magic phenomena using the scientific method.
Throughout Equestrian history, an unspecified number of magical objects have been imbued with quite the range of mystical powers by the greatest mages that came before. In the Equestria Girls franchise, some of these artifacts were discovered in the "Human World"; a recurring plot element involves Sunset Shimmer and their friends tracking them down and/or removing them from the possession of humans corrupted by their magic.
Much of the flora and fauna of Equestria is similar or practically identical to those on Earth, among the species shown or referenced include cats, dogs, rabbits, snakes, vultures, and numerous plant species such as trees or grasses. In addition to those species similar to those on Earth, there are a number of typical "fantasy" species.

Magical creatures

Magical creatures in the show include but are not limited to:
Equestria is the largest equine nation, stretching across a peninsula-continent that touches both the northern arctic and subarctic poles; located on an Earth-like planet which, within the Friendship is Magic television series, has not been specifically named. Equestria reaches from the western Luna Ocean to the eastern Celestia Sea, bordering the northern Crystal Empire and the southern Queendom of Changlings.
The Equestrian continent's diverse geography ranges, biomes, provinces and settlements are modeled after or based on North American cities and the nearctic realm. The full geography of the Equestria is currently unexplored and evolving to fit the needs of the show writers, and is currently limited to a part of the continent of Equus, which is controlled mostly by the Equestrian nation. The Equestrian-explored portion of the continent is flanked by two vast oceans, bounded to the north by the mountainous Frozen North region and extends across the northern and southern hemispheres, ending with the Bone Dry Desert that borders the Mysterious South region. However, a map included in the Friendship Is Magic film indicates vast areas beyond these regions.
The exact size or chronology of the planet is unknown. Like Earth, Equestria's world has one moon, and is depicted as being part of a solar system that includes at least four more planets. Questions regarding heliocentrism or geocentrism are complicated by the fact that Celestia and Luna can move the Sun and Moon, respectively, at a mere whim. Similar constellations exist; with the caveat that most of them are also dangerous monsters, such as Canis Major and Ursa Minor. In relation to the "Human World" its not clear if Equestria is located in a parallel universe, or somewhere in the same universe as Earth. Uncertainty about this fact also makes it difficult to determine if the Equestrian events are occurring at the same time as events on Earth, or if the entire world exists in Earth's relative past or future, with the "Magic Mirror" acting as a portal through time, rather than just space.
Notable settlements, territories, dependencies and major population centers in Equestria are identified throughout the series and used as the setting for one or more episodes. Most minor locations, or vaguely referenced areas outside Equestria, both in the television series and associated media aren't specified whether these locations are part of Equestria or not. The films, television series, and other franchise media take place in many locations and their exact affiliation with Equestria is not explored.
As the creator of the show wrote, Lauren Faust explained on various social media pages, that the Everfree Forest is west of Ponyville, Sweet Apple Acres is southwest, and both Fluttershy's cottage and meadow are located north of the farm, presumably between Ponyville and the forest. Canterlot is northeast of Ponyville. However, in subsequent interviews, both Faust and Jayson Thiessen mentioned that the geography and continuity of the show are fluidly defined and are subject to change as necessary, and that the production team had no official map of Equestria at their disposal.

Capital Region

The Capital Region is Equestria's foundation and "ancestral lands", where the united cooperation between the unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies brought an end to Eternal Winter. The Capital Region represents Equestria's original sovereign borders before the dynastic reign of Princess Celestia; all outlying territories represent subsequent thousand year expansion of the nation's imperialist interests. Much of the Capital Regions are "crown lands"; i.e. they are legally considered public land and is apart from the monarch's private estate.

Ponyville

Ponyville is the main setting of the entire My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic media franchise, and primary home to the Mane 6. The current elected administrator is Mayor Mare has been leading Ponyville for at least a decade. Ponyville is a young agrarian society settlement, founded a century ago by earth ponies of the Apple family on crown lands lands granted by Princess Celestia personally. A population exceeding a thousand, Ponyville's residents are mostly earth ponies with, though a fair number of pegasi and several dozen unicorns, and some non-ponies call it home. Ponyville is known for its agricultural produce—apples, pears, carrots, etc.—and is home of "Sweet Apple Acres", Equestria's only source of domesticated zap apple jam. Ponyville has accommodations normally reserved for larger settlements; it is a school district, a diplomatic mission, a tourist destination and a rail center—being the first/last connecting stop between Canterlot and other principalities—but Ponyville has long prided itself on its earth pony culture and its avoidance of urbanization.
Ponyville's "old-fashioned charm" atmosphere is misleading: the small town is home to a diverse cast of eccentric ponies—from grand parties hosted by Pinkie Pie, to Rarity's world renown fashions shows, too name a few—and not a single week passes without some grand adventure or crisis of sort requiring the immediate attention of its residences. Twilight's own first impression of Ponyville upon first arrival was "Everypony in this town is crazy!"
Ponyville is portrayed on the world map as a small village near the center of Equestria, within visual distance of both Canterlot and Cloudsdale. The design of Ponyville is mostly Bavarian, with a minor influence of Americana. The finale, "Twilight's Kingdom", introduces the Castle of Friendship in Ponyville as the residence of Twilight Sparkle, her assistant Spike, and her pupil Starlight Glimmer.
According to the book Art of Equestria, which describes the creation of Friendship is Magic, the creator of the series, Lauren Faust, originally proposed the name Fillydelphia instead of Ponyville. The series later added Fillydelphia as a new, separate city.
Faust wrote in a comment on her DeviantArt page that the Everfree Forest is west of Ponyville, Sweet Apple Acres is southwest, Canterlot is northeast, and Fluttershy's cottage and meadow are located north of the farm. However, in subsequent interviews, both Faust and the supervising director and executive producer of the series, Jayson Thiessen, mentioned that the geography and continuity of the show are loosely defined and may change as necessary, and a layout artist for the series stated on December 10, 2011, that the production team had no official map of Equestria for reference.
Upon the release of Art of Equestria, however, an official map was released. It suggests that the Everfree Forest is to the east of Ponyville, Sweet Apple Acres to the southeast, and Fluttershy's cottage and meadow are located north of the farm.

Canterlot

The Kingdom of Canterlot is the capital of Equestria, built on the side of the Foal Mountains. Canterlot is the setting of the royal court of Princess Celestia and Luna and the residence of Twilight Sparkle before Ponyville. Canterlot Castle is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focal point for the Equestrian people at times of national rejoicing and mourning. The name Canterlot is a portmanteau of Camelot and canter.
Lauren Faust's inspiration for Canterlot, with its castle carved into the side of the mountain, was from The Lord of the Rings. Ted Anderson and Agnes Garbowska's inspiration for ancient Canterlot was ancient Rome.
According to Lauren Faust, Canterlot was originally called "Canterbury", after the historical English city, and the name "Canterlot" was suggested by her husband Craig McCracken.

Cloudsdale

Cloudsdale is a large floating city in Equestria first depicted in "Sonic Rainboom". Depicted as being within central capitol region proper, relatively near to Ponyville and Canterlot. Unlike other cities, Cloudsdale floats on a series of clouds, and is only accessible by winged creatures and creatures that have had a "cloud-walking spell" cast upon them. It is the largest known Pegasi settlement in the realm. Cloudsdale is said to be the original home and birthplace of and. Cloudsdale served as the backdrop in the episodes: "The Cutie Mark Chronicles", "The Return of Harmony", "Hurricane Fluttershy", "Tanks for the Memories", and "The End of the End". In , Cloudsdale appears in one of the dimensional rifts opened by Midnight Sparkle. Cloudsdale is a pun on Clydesdale, a breed of horse; according to Lauren Faust, the name "Cloudsdale" was originally suggested by her husband Craig McCracken.

Everfree Forest

The Everfree Forest is a large, enchanted forest grove in the boundaries adjacent of the Ponyville township; it is usually referred to simply as "the Forest".
While technically part of Equestria, the Everfree Forest seasons have a will of their own there. The Forest is also home to an assortment of creatures, many of them dangerous; the animals take care of themselves and are truly wild; and terrible legendary monsters stalk the shadows. Among the plant species within the Forest are trees such as beech, oak, pine, sycamore, yew and knotgrass and thorn undergrowth. Though the Forest is vastly dense and wild, there are few paths and clearings due to the mutated vegetation that grow fast and wild. It is noted as being one of the few places in Equestria where magic behaves erratically for unicorns, the land cannot be tamed by the earth ponies, nor the weather be controlled by the pegasi, but instead moves on its own. The Pillars planted the Tree of Harmony here, both to keep the plethora of monsters and vegetations in check, and to utilize the hostile environment as natural protection from any who would seek out the Tree.
The forest is considered uninhabitable and regarded by ponies as the most hostile region within Equestria's borders. Travel is strictly prohibited to all Equestrians for their personal safety. Only the native Everfree Deers seem capable of calling this environment home. It is the location of the Castle of Two Sisters, the Mirror Pool, and other enchanted phenomena. Due to the forest's rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, Zecora frequently travels into the Forest for various reasons; she built her hut within to more easily harvest ingredients for her potions.
Thicket, a Deer village, is surrounded by Everfree's thick forests and steep hills which create an enclave that is cut off from its immediate hinterland. Thicket exercises tribal sovereignty—complete jurisdiction and control over the Everfree Forest territory—while recognizing that Equestria retains ultimate federal sovereignty.
The episode "Stare Master" states that the forest is filled with "many strange creatures". Subsequent episodes show that creatures from the Everfree Forest include hydras, manticores, Cragadiles, Timber Wolves, sea serpents, cockatrices, Parasprites, and Ursas.

Frozen North

The Frozen North is dominated by the Yaket Mountain Range, north of Equestria, and characterized by an alpine climate, subarctic montane ecosystems, and polar climate. It is a setting in the IDW comic My Little Pony: Friends Forever issue 36. It has short cool summers and long cold winters, and biomes consisting of taiga, treeless tundra, glaciers, exotic medicinal plants, and permanent ice sheets.

Crystal Empire

The Crystal Empire is introduced in season three's premiere episode. It was founded Princess Amore, a female unicorn who appears in the IDW comics' "My Little Pony: FIENDship is Magic Issue #1" and whose name appears in Little, Brown and Company's "The Journal of the Two Sisters". The Crystal Empire is technically the oldest of Equestria's principalities; its existence predates it by centuries. After the conflict instigated by King Sombra, it was annexed by Equestria.
The Crystal Heart is the empire's most sacred magical artifact, which possesses the power to absorb, magnify, and deflect emotions. The crystal ponies used it in peacetime to exponentially amplify the power of love and project hope and love across Equestria. In times of conflict, it can be used as a weapon to demoralize the armies of would be aggressors.
Celestia addresses the Crystal Empire as a sister nation that is part of Equestria, and the crystal ponies refer to themselves as Equestrian. In "The Ballad of the Crystal Empire", Twilight Sparkle mentions the Crystal Kingdom as part of the Crystal Ponies' history. It is also home to the Crystal Ponies as well as prince regent Shining Armor and princess regnant Mi Amore Cadenza, who took over the kingdom after King Sombra was defeated a second time by the Crystal Heart. Royal Magic Advisor Sunburst serves her majesty as "Royal Mentor and Foalsitter" to their daughter and royal heir, Princess Flurry Heart. The book "Twilight Sparkle and the Crystal Heart Spell" names the Crystal Empire as part of Equestria.

Celestial Coast

The Celestia Sea is located east of Equestria, and is analogous to the real world Atlantic Ocean. The region's biomes, climate, and geographic terrain are equally analogous to Eastern Canada and Eastern United States. The coastline is an emerging megaregion and the most heavily urbanized agglomeration of Equestria. Across the sea, to the far east lies the Griffon Continent; notable nations include Griffonstone, the Griffish Isles, Bug Bear Territory, the Lands of the Hippogriffs, and the Lands of the Dragon.

Manehattan

Manehattan is based on the archipelago of Manhattan and Long Island, portrayed as a large port metropolis, with many landmarks resembling those from New York City. It is first depicted in "The Cutie Mark Chronicles" and featured prominently in "Rarity Takes Manehattan". It features late 20th century technologies; including tall buildings and skyscrapers with asphalt streets decorated with electric jumbotrons, neon signs, and lampposts. Ponies' primary form of transportation are pony-drawn taxi carriages and underground metrorailway system. Manehattan is the most densely populated and ethnically diverse city in Equestria, hosting all manner of races and species, and is a major commercial, financial and cultural center. Its iconic landmarks include the Crystaller Building, Friendship Trade Center, neon-lit Bridleway Theater District, Madisoat Mare Garden, Maneway Grand Central Station, and Manehattan Park. A mirror of the Statue of Liberty, the "Mare Statue," located on Friendship Island, has become a national symbol of Equestria's commitment of peace and goodwill towards all nations.
Like Ponyville and Canterlot, Manehattan is depicted as the location of one of Rarity's boutiques, known as "Rarity for You". Notable features of the setting include conventions differing from Ponyville's, as seen in the episode, "Stranger Than Fan Fiction", and an elevated train. Starlight's Village, also called Our Town, is a community in the Manehattan region and is characterized by a semi-arid climate.

Hollow Shades

Hollow Shades was first mentioned in "Apple Family Reunion". The town first physically appeared in the Map of Equestria, a hand-drawn piece of artwork that lays out the canonical layout of Equestria, located east of Canterlot, tucked underneath a forest canopy, and hidden behind Foal Mountain.

Seaward Shoals

Seaward Shoals is portrayed as a small rocky coastal port town, similar to those of the New England region of the United States. Also called Silver Shoals or Rocky Shoals, the community is the setting of the episode "P.P.O.V. ".
The former Princesses, Luna and Celestia, retired to this region upon abdicating the throne.

Griffish Isles

Griffish Isles, an Equestrian archipelago commonwealth, located in the Celestia Sea off the north-western coast of continental "Griffon continent", and is analogous to the real world British Isles. On the official map, it is also very close to the Bug Bear Territory. Equestrian settlements include Buckingham, Manechester, and Trottingham the regional capitol city of Griffish Isles. The Griffish Isles is first mentioned in "Stare Master"—where Rarity is making 20 gold-lined gowns for ponies there—and later mentioned in "Luna Eclipsed", "Simple Ways", and "Crusaders of the Lost Mark". It is also mentioned on Enterplay trading card series 2 #46, a card of Sir Lintsalot. Trottingham itself is said to be based on the British city of Birmingham and the ponies that inhabit it wear clothing inspired by British culture and have stereotype Cockney accents. Notable residents of Griffish Isles include Pipsqueak before a move, and Sassy Saddles before moving to the Equestrian mainland.

Luna Coast

Las Pegasus

Las Pegasus is depicted as a floating cloud city, like Cloudsdale. Based on the cities of Las Vegas and Paradise, Nevada, Las Pegasus is portrayed as "one big party", with many hotels, resorts, nightlife, amusement parks, restaurants, arcades, and casinos. Las Pegasus was the setting of the episode "Viva Las Pegasus". Las Pegasus actively competes with Applewood and Manehatten for the title of "entertainment capitol of the world".

Mysterious South

This region is known for its arid deserts, temperate prairies and tropical rainforest biomes.
Appleloosa
Appleloosa is the most populous settlement in the region. Dodge Junction is based on the cities of the American Wild West, and is portrayed as a bustling township that mainly revolves around a cherry farm run by the earth pony Cherry Jubilee. Similar to Dodge Junction, Appleloosa, a pun of the Appaloosa horse breed, is a setting based on the cities of the American Wild West and mainly revolves around an apple orchard that is home to members of the "Apple Family". Appleloosa is depicted as bordering on the buffalo lands, home of the indigenous buffalo tribes.

The Badlands

The Badlands are in the remote desert backcountry, and are known to be populated by terrifying creatures, such as diamond dogs, giant worms, and rogue dragons.

Somnambula

Somnambula, roughly based on Egypt and North Africa, has an arid, desert climate, excluding a few oases. It is notable as a city that the pony adventurer Daring Do has saved twice. Somnambula, a heroic pegasus who rescued the prince of the Kingdom from a sphinx, is the city's namesake. The city is noted as once being ruled over by pharaohs, and is first mentioned in the episode "Stranger than Fan Fiction", and shown again in the episode "Daring Done?".

Other locations

Hope Hollow

Hope Hollow is a township located in an unspecified region of Equestria. It was primarily lead by the Skies family, who served as the mayors for at least three generations. Petunia Petals runs at least two businesses in the town, and assists the Mayor in fulfilling seven government jobs in total, making her arguably the most important pony in the town.

Mentioned locations

The setting of San Franciscolt is based on the city of San Francisco, and is mentioned in the book Twilight Sparkle and the Crystal Heart Spell.
In episodes throughout the series and in promotional material, other locations are mentioned, but not used as settings. A partial list includes Baltimare, based on the city of Baltimore; Fillydelphia, which is based on the city of Philadelphia and was the original name for Ponyville when the show was in development; and Vanhoover, which is based on Vancouver, Canada and is described as the former home of "Grand Pear", Applejack's grandfather.

Lands beyond Equestria

Most of these nations maintain some form of official diplomatic relations with Equestria. In Season 8 premier, Equestria's allied leadership sent their children to Princess Twilight's School of Friendship as part of a cultural exchange program; when the children went missing, their parents were prepared to declare war on Equestria. After the defeat of the Storm King, at the request of Twilight Sparkle, Equestria initiated economic assistance to help rebuild war-torn regions, remove trade barriers, modernize industry, and improve the prosperity of nations devastated by the Storm Empire. In "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #61-62" story Convocation of Creatures, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, and Raven Inkwell take part in the Convocation of Creatures, an assembly of delegates and leaders from all across the world. At the convocation reception, she meets Princess Cadance, Queen Novo, Princess Ember, Prince Rutherford, King Thorax, and hundreds of other leaders from other regions of the world.

Allied Nations of Equestria

Saddle Arabia is mentioned in "Magic Duel", "Road to Friendship", and. Princess Celestia has hosted diplomatic representatives from this region on several occasions. Hoo'Far, a Saddle Arabian unicorn, states that Saddle Arabia has "many fans" of Trixie. The name is a play on the country of Saudi Arabia.

The duke and duchess of Maretonia appear in attendance of the Equestria Games in the episode of the same name. They appear again in Twilight's Kingdom and visit the Crystal Empire for a summit with Celestia, Luna, and Cadance. Maretonia is also mentioned in Princess Celestia and the Summer of Royal Waves and by Cadance and Shining Armor in The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows. The name is a play on Macedonia.

The Hippogriffs/Hippocampus nation in My Little Pony The Movie and in The Official Movie Sourcebook, to which they fled after their original home of Hippogriffia was destroyed by the Storm King's forces.
The Changeling Hive is the home of the changelings. Here, Chrysalis is dethroned and Thorax succeeds her as changeling leader. The changelings fed on emotions, and their magic was built around them.

Dragon Lands are the home of dragons. Due to their egotistical nature, dragons do not have any formal borders or government by traditional definitions, functioning rather like adhocracy. Dragon's primary food source is that of gemstones, many of which are imported from Equestria. Since the rise of the new "Dragon Lord," the leader of the dragons, the dragons have agreed to "stop being bullies" to the ponies, and have even sent some members of their species to study in Equestria.

The Griffon Kingdom is primarily populated by griffons, and has acted as close allies of Equestria.
Yakyakistan is the yak kingdom. It is located north of the Crystal Empire and is ruled by the yak Prince Rutherford. Ambassador Pinkie Pie befriended the citizens, was made an "honorary yak-pony", and assimilated into their culture. Prince Blueblood and Shining Armor visit Yakyakistan for a diplomatic mission to set up a trade agreement between it and the Crystal Empire.

Abyssinia is a kingdom located in the Mysterious South, south of Equestria by the Bone Dry Desert. A fairly industrious kingdom, Abyssinia has numerous cities within its borders, such as the capital city of Panthera, Tabbytown and Henry. It's a largely peaceful kingdom with kind monarchs and well-developed cities and appears to be in many ways, the cat "equivalent" of Equestria. Abyssinia is named after the real-life cat breed. The location was first mentioned in "Ponies of Dark Water" in 2016 and made its first true appearance in "Storm King". Ever since then, the location has become a consistent aspect of the My Little Pony mythos, with it being mentioned in ', Ponyville Mysteries and the Gameloft video game.
The early history of Abyssinia is quite vague. The land was ruled by an absolute monarchy of King and Queen, rather than Equestria's principality-like constitutional monarchy. Its capital of Panthera was settled on the borders of a cat-like lake by the Cat lords. Applejack and the Mane Six apparently have a history of getting arrested in Abyssinia, with Applejack claiming it was "strangely litigious".
The kingdom was annexed by the Storm Empire: its capital of Panthera was later destroyed by the Storm King "out of boredom". During the Reign of the Storm King, many cats who left Panthera moved to Klugetown and set up various merchant shop and smuggling rings. After the Storm King was destroyed by the Mane Six, the kingdom's fate was left unknown. Afterwards, the Royal family of Abyssinia attended the "Convocation of the Creatures" event at Mount Metazoa, and the Abyssinian Embassy was constructed in Ponyville. These events signified that the kingdom is recovering from the disaster and is in diplomatic relations with Equestria.
In the original map of Abyssinia, the continent was shown to be huge and vaguely L-shaped with mountainous terrain. After the release of ', the official location of the kingdom is currently unknown, given the known geography is mismatched with the layout of the Mysterious South. The kingdom appears to be mostly an even-temperament with large bodies of water and a decent amount of vegetation, but nearby locations such as Klugetown and the Basalt Beach are almost completely barren and dry.

Other nations