Royal Riff

Royal Riff is a male Earth pony with a light purple coat, white mane and tail, orange eyes, and a cutie mark of two white G-clefs. He is unnamed in the show, but he is named in merchandise and other media. He has a speaking role in Putting Your Hoof Down.__TOC__
==Development and design==
Royal Riff shares his mane and tail style and colors, eye color, and cutie mark with "High Note", shares his design and mane and tail color and sometimes eye color with S04E22 Unnamed Earth Stallion #9, shares his design with Caramel, Cherry Fizzy, Golden Delicious, Wensley, "Black Stone", "Neon Brush", S01E02 Unnamed Earth Stallion #1, BeauDe Mane, "Cormano", Upper East Stride, "Gingerbread", S04E22 Unnamed Earth Stallion #2, S04E22 Unnamed Earth Stallion #1, S04E24 Unnamed Earth Stallion #6, "Strawberry Cream", S04E24 Unnamed Earth Stallion #4, S04E26 Unnamed Earth Stallion #1, and sometimes S04E20 Unnamed Earth Stallion #1, shares his coat and eye colors and sometimes design and/or cutie mark with Diamond Cutter, shares his mane and tail style or sometimes design with Warm Front and Starburst, shares his mane and tail style with Doctor Horse, "Serenity", S04E12 Unnamed Unicorn Stallion #2, "Dewdrop", S04E22 Unnamed Unicorn Stallion #2, "Gary Coronet", "Sunlight", "Cloud Break", "Silverwing", "Toffee", and sometimes "Star Bright", unicorn "Sir Pony Moore", and Top Marks, shares his mane style with Ace Point, "Black Marble", and sometimes "Arpeggio", shares his tail style with "Medallion Gold", Business Savvy, and stallion Snappy Scoop, resembles "Karat", and has a similar color scheme to "Earl Grey".
The Crystal-Glitter mini-figure first toy of Royal Riff was, as with most of the fourth wave of mystery pack toys, leaked in mid-November 2011, and a promotional photo of both it and the European version of its corresponding collector card was, along with promotional photos of the packaging and other twenty-three toy-and-card pairs for the fourth wave of mystery packs, leaked in late November 2011; both of these leaks preceded the release of Royal Riff's debut episode The Mysterious Mare Do Well.
==Depiction in the series==
===Season two===
 Royal Riff appears in The Mysterious Mare Do Well, cheering for Mare Do Well after she repairs for the dam and as she flies through the sky. He later appears several times in The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000, before, during, and after The Flim Flam Brothers, and once in Hearts and Hooves Day during The Perfect Stallion. In Putting Your Hoof Down, he has a brief speaking role when Fluttershy beats him up and throws him from a taxi carriage.
===Season three===
In Too Many Pinkie Pies, Royal Riff appears outside Golden Oak Library complaining about the Pinkie Pie duplicates in Ponyville. In One Bad Apple, he wears a carrot costume in the Summer Harvest Parade and is also briefly seen watching the parade from the crowds. He appears during Twilight Sparkle and Trixie's first duel in Magic Duel and at the Crystal Empire train station in both Just for Sidekicks and Games Ponies Play.
===Season four===
 Royal Riff appears in the Crystal Empire stadium crowd in Flight to the Finish, several times as a Crystal Pony. He also appears at the beginning of Rarity Takes Manehattan, numerous times in Pinkie Pride, and twice in both Simple Ways and Filli Vanilli. He watches the migration of the Breezies in It Ain't Easy Being Breezies and attends the after-party of the Cutie Mark Crusaders' play in For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils. He is seen several times in Leap of Faith, during the Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic song and at the Ponyville swim meet; in Trade Ya!, sometimes with green eyes; in Inspiration Manifestation, being trapped in a crystallized Town Hall with Berryshine at one point; in Equestria Games; in a flashback to Leap of Faith in Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1; and in Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2.
===Season five===
Royal Riff appears at the end of The Cutie Map - Part 2, shops at Davenport's Quills and Sofas outlet in Castle Sweet Castle, appears in Apple Bloom's dream in Bloom & Gloom, attends Cranky Doodle Donkey and Matilda's wedding in Slice of Life, watches a mime perform in Princess Spike, attends the friendship party in Party Pooped, appears in Ponyville's shared dream in Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?, and watches the Sisterhooves Social in Brotherhooves Social. In Crusaders of the Lost Mark, he makes cameo appearances walking in Ponyville during Light of Your Cutie Mark and in the crowd as Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack sing to the Cutie Mark Crusaders during We'll Make Our Mark. In The Mane Attraction, he appears at Sweet Apple Acres during preparations for the Helping Hooves Music Festival and watches Countess Coloratura's rehearsal performance of The Spectacle. In The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 1, he appears walking in Ponyville with Golden Harvest and as part of the changeling resistance in an alternate timeline created by Starlight Glimmer. In The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 2, he and the other members of the resistance bring Twilight Sparkle and Spike to their camp and confront the changelings when they infiltrate and attack the camp.
===Season six===
At the beginning of The Crystalling - Part 1, Royal Riff he makes a cameo appearance walking in Ponyville. In Newbie Dash, he appears in the audience for the Rainbow Dash's first flight show as full-time member of the Wonderbolts. In A Hearth's Warming Tale, he appears inside the Castle of Friendship during a Hearth's Warming Eve celebration, singing Hearth's Warming Eve Is Here Once Again and its reprise. In Applejack's "Day" Off, he appears as a patron of the Ponyville Day Spa. In The Cart Before the Ponies, he cheers while spectating the Applewood Derby during Derby Racers. In Buckball Season, he appears at the Ponyville train station cheering for the Ponyville buckball team as they leave to play in Appleloosa. He and the other Ponyville fans later appears spectating the game in Appleloosa. In The Fault in Our Cutie Marks, he appears watching Gabby play baseball during Find the Purpose in Your Life and later attending Gabby' cute-ceañera. In Where the Apple Lies, he appears in a flashback watching a surgery lecture in the Ponyville Hospital.
===Season seven===
In Celestial Advice, Royal Riff talks to Whitewash and later stands at a table while attending Starlight Glimmer's medal ceremony in the Castle of Friendship. In A Flurry of Emotions, he appears as a patron of the Ponyville Café during Spearhead's art exhibit. In Forever Filly, he makes a background appearance standing with Goldengrape in Ponyvile. In The Perfect Pear, he appears in the Ponyville Marketplace as a customer for Grand Pear's stand. In Fame and Misfortune, he makes a background appearance walking through Ponyville. In Triple Threat, he and other ponies approach Ember after she arrives in Ponyville and gets scared by her fire breath. He later attends Ember and Thorax's Flame of Friendship party. In A Health of Information, he appears in a flashback over a thousand years ago waiting in a line of ponies suffering from Swamp Fever to Mage Meadowbrook's house for treatment.
===Season eight===
In Non-Compete Clause, Royal Riff appears walking in the School of Friendship courtyard with Golden Harvest and Florina Tart. In The Break Up Break Down, he appears decorating a house from a balcony with Cheerilee on Hearts and Hooves Day and makes subsequent appearances enjoying the day with Amethyst Star at the Ponyville Café and at later that evening. In Yakity-Sax, he walks in the park with Shoeshine and runs away upon hearing Pinkie Pie's poor yovidaphone playing. In Road to Friendship, he watches Trixie's magic show in the park. In The Washouts, he makes a cameo appearance walking in Ponyville. In A Rockhoof and a Hard Place, he appears in Canterlot talking to Sunshine Smiles.
===Season nine===
In The Beginning of the End - Part 2, Royal Riff appears as one of King Sombra's mind controlled slaves in Ponyville and follows him to Canterlot. Later, he and the other mind controlled ponies confront the Mane Six when they arrive in Canterlot. In Common Ground, he makes various background appearances in Appleloosa in the movie theater, offering bits for Snails' autograph with other fans, entering the buckball stadium and cheering during a game. In Student Counsel, he appears sitting in Ponyville talking to Lily Valley. In 2, 4, 6, Greaaat, he spectates the buckball game between the School of Friendship and Princess Celestia's School of Magic and also watches the halftime cheerleading routine. In A Trivial Pursuit, he makes a background appearance walking through Ponyville with Crusoe Palm. In Growing Up is Hard to Do, he appears as a passenger on the Friendship Express during Being Big is All It Takes, sitting with Lucky Clover as the adult Cutie Mark Crusaders walk over the seats. In The Big Mac Question, he appears in Ponyville with Crusoe Palm hearing Discord's echo, and talks with him at the Ponyville Marketplace. He later appears walking alone in Ponyville hearing Apple Bloom's echo. In The Last Problem, he appears in a flashback attending Twilight's Sparkle's coronation as ruler of Equestria in Canterlot.
===Appearances===
Times are approximate.
Season two	Season two
1 	None
2 	None
3 	None
4 	None
5 	None
6 	None
7 	None
8 	12:01, 12:35 - cheering for Mare Do Well
9 	None
10 	None
11 	None
12 	None
13 	None
14 	None
15 	4:11, 12:04 - in the crowd of complaining ponies; 5:21, 5:36, 8:14 - seen during The Flim Flam Brothers
16 	None
17 	4:10 - seen during The Perfect Stallion
18 	None
19 	7:50, 8:19 - at Iron Will's assertiveness seminar; 13:13 - jumps into Fluttershy's taxi before she throws him off (speaking role)
Duplicates: three at 7:50
20 	None
21 	None
22 	None
23 	None
24 	None
25 	None
26 	None
Season three	Season three
1 	None
2 	None
3 	13:28 - in the crowd of ponies outside Golden Oak Library
4 	13:06, 13:41, 15:12, 16:38 - dressed as a carrot in the Summer Harvest Parade; 15:46, 15:51 - watching the parade from the crowd
5 	6:02 - seen during Twilight and Trixie's first duel
6 	None
7 	None
8 	None
9 	None
10 	None
11 	17:49 - at the Crystal Empire train station
12 	20:43 - at the Crystal Empire train station
13 	None
Season four	Season four
1 	None
2 	None
3 	None
4 	None
5 	20:20 ~ 20:28, 21:07 ~ 21:26 - in the Crystal Empire stadium crowd
Duplicates: several at 20:28
6 	None
7 	None
8 	0:01 - talking to Cherry Berry at the train station
9 	None
10 	None
11 	None
12 	3:09, 3:11 - seen during Pinkie the Party Planner; 13:52 - watching Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich's goof-off; 14:13, 14:41, 15:48 ~ 15:56 - seen during The Goof Off; 16:11, 16:21, 16:32 - seen when Pinkie Pie forfeits the goof-off; 20:11 - seen during Make a Wish
13 	0:07 - at the Ponyville Days festival announcement; 5:05 - at the train station
14 	11:48 - in the crowd during Find the Music in You; 15:36 - in line outside Sugarcube Corner
15 	None
16 	4:11, 4:18, 4:41, 4:44, 5:21 - watching the Breezies' migration; 5:58 - watching Fluttershy save the Breezies
Duplicates: three at 4:11; one at 4:21, 5:21, and 5:59
17 	None
18 	None
19 	5:07 - at the after-party of the Cutie Mark Crusaders' play
20 	2:57 - walking toward Flim and Flam's tent; 3:35 - inside the tent; 4:55, 5:26, 5:47, 6:06, 6:42, 7:11 ~ 7:21 - seen during Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic; 14:38 ~ 14:49, 15:36 ~ 17:01 - at the Ponyville swim meet; 19:09, 19:18 - listening to Applejack
Duplicates: one at 7:14
21 	None
22 	15:29 - walking through the Traders Exchange (green eyes); 19:17 - at the Traders Exchange trial
23 	0:11 - behind a stall at the Foal and Filly Fair; 16:11 - trapped inside the crystallized Town Hall with Berryshine
24 	2:16, 2:20 - at the Crystal Empire train station with Cherry Berry; 14:34, 14:52 - listening to Spike sing; 16:33 - watching the ice archery event; 18:38 - watching the ice cloud fall
25 	16:28 - in a Leap of Faith flashback
26 	20:19 - walking up to Twilight's castle; 20:30, 20:38, 20:57 - seen during Let the Rainbow Remind You
Season five	Season five
1 	None
2 	20:29, 21:28 - at the town's victory party
3 	17:48 - shopping in Davenport's Quills and Sofas
4 	8:22 - helping Mayor Mare flee Ponyville
5 	None
6 	None
7 	None
8 	None
9 	18:57, 19:27, 20:14, 20:54 - at Cranky Doodle Donkey and Matilda's wedding
10 	3:34 - watching a mime perform
11 	19:59 - at the friendship party in Ponyville
12 	None
13 	14:05, 14:24 - in Ponyville's shared dream
14 	None
15 	6:43, 7:23 - watching the Wonderbolts practice
16 	5:43 - riding a Manehattan taxi carriage
17 	11:55 - reacting to "Orchard Blossom"'s deep voice; 13:20 - watching Apple Bloom and "Orchard Blossom" juggling bowling pins; 14:51 - standing next to Daisy behind Granny Smith; 17:07 - staring at "Orchard Blossom"; 17:58 - looking at the badly bruised Rainbow Dash; 18:02 - cheering for Rainbow and Scootaloo
18 	13:38 - walking next to Shoeshine; 20:25 - standing next to Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops
19 	None
20 	None
21 	None
22 	None
23 	None
24 	1:21 - gasping; 2:39 - standing in between Fluttershy and Crusoe Palm; 3:16 - saying "Rara?" with everypony but Applejack; 4:34 - still listening to Applejack; 5:08 - seeing Coloratura's arrival; 8:45 - standing in between Pinkie Pie and Flitter, watching Countess Coloratura perform The Spectacle; 9:23 - cheering at the end of Countess Coloratura's number
25 	3:17 - walking with Golden Harvest; 21:11 - member of the changeling resistance
26 	1:15 ~ 5:04 - member of the changeling resistance
Season six	Season six
1 	1:52 - walking outside the Castle of Friendship
2 	None
3 	None
4 	None
5 	None
6 	None
7 	14:07 ~ 18:41 - in the crowd for the Wonderbolts' performance
8 	0:54 - walking past Cranky Doodle Donkey wearing sleigh bells; 21:06 - singing around Starlight Glimmer
9 	None
10 	5:56 - standing behind Miss Cheerilee
11 	None
12 	None
13 	None
14 	16:48 - watching the Applewood Derby
15 	None
16 	None
17 	None
18 	12:58 - part of the crowd of fanponies at the train station; 19:40 - in the stands for the buckball game
19 	12:46 - in the stands of the baseball game; 20:52 - attending Gabby's cute-ceñeara; 21:07 - dancing at Gabby's cute-ceñeara
20 	None
21 	None
22 	None
23 	17:54 - as an audience member in the operating theater
24 	None
25 	None
26 	None
Season seven	Season seven
1 	5:17 - talking to Whitewash; 5:42 - standing at a table
2 	None
3 	6:39 - walking into the art exhibit; 11:53 - standing in front of the counter
4 	None
5 	None
6 	4:55 - talking to Goldengrape in a long shot of the Ponyville mountainside
7 	None
8 	None
9 	None
10 	None
11 	None
12 	None
13 	0:10 - walking with Daisy toward Grand Pear's stand
14 	10:16 - walking in Ponyville town square
15 	12:05 - walking up to Ember; 21:01 - at the ceremony
16 	None
17 	None
18 	None
19 	None
20 	None
21 	None
22 	None
23 	None
24 	None
25 	None
26 	None
Season eight	Season eight
1 	None
2 	None
3 	None
4 	None
5 	None
6 	None
7 	None
8 	None
9 	0:03 - walking with Florina Tart and Golden Harvest
10 	5:49 - decorating Miss Cheerilee's balcony; 10:59 - giving a heart-shaped balloon to Amethyst Star; 20:27 - still talking to Amethyst Star
11 	None
12 	None
13 	None
14 	None
15 	None
16 	None
17 	None
18 	Yes
19 	Yes
20 	Yes
21 	Yes
22 	None
23 	None
24 	None
25 	None
26 	None
Season nine	Season nine
1 	None
2 	Yes
3 	None
4 	None
5 	None
6 	Yes
7 	None
8 	None
9 	None
10 	None
11 	Yes
12 	None
13 	None
14 	S09E14 Unnamed Earth Stallion #5
15 	Yes
16 	None
17 	None
18 	None
19 	None
20 	None
21 	None
22 	Yes
23 	Yes
24 	None
25 	None
26 	Yes
==Other depictions==
===My Little Pony (mobile game)===
Royal Riff is a character in Gameloft's mobile game. The game's description of him states, "This gentlecolt wishes to be a famous composer! With a little more practice, he will win the audience over!"
==Merchandise==
Royal Riff is depicted with the same design as Big McIntosh and named in the fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth waves of mystery pack toys and collector cards, the European versions of which state that he "makes up songs!" and the U.S. versions of which list his name with a trademark symbol and state that he "makes up songs to sing together with friends!" The eighth wave's packaging, Crystal Princess Celebration printed insert advertising, Little Brown's Mini Pony Collector's Guide pages 161 and 164, and Tesco's website show a pink-maned not-officially-released version of Royal Riff's Neon-Bright mini-figure; this version was leaked in late November 2012, preceding the released version.
Royal Riff also appears with his name listed with a trademark symbol in Enterplay's collectible card game, which is the first time that he is simultaneously referred to by name and depicted with the same design as in the show. His card α #78 C lists the quote "I know just the tune for the occasion!"
==Quotes==
==Gallery==
==See also==
*
*
*Ponies with a similar name or placeholder name: Royal Pin, Royal Ribbon, and "Royal Blue"
==References==
pt:Royal Riff
Category:Musicians
Category:Background characters