New Mareland

New Mareland, officially the Commonwealth of New Mareland is a colony of Equestria in Griffonia.

## History

### Foundation and Growth

In 649 ALB, the first Equestrian traders, led by Coltlumbus, settled on the coast of Southern Griffonia and founded the colony of Celestia. Since then, years of immigration, colonisation and one-sided trade deals have resulted in the Commonwealth of New Mareland, a beacon of  Equestria on Griffonian shores.

While nominally still part of Equestria, New Mareland has its own government in the Commonwealth Congress and is subject to its own laws and regulations. The lax regulations in industry and employment laws, along with the valuable griffon market, lead to many Equestrian businesses setting up in New Mareland.

### Black Wednesday

The New Mareland economy boomed, filled with ponies of adventure and drive, shaking off the Harmonic stagnation that plagued their sedate motherland. Even the collapse of the  Griffonian Empire in 979, which plunged New Mareland into a recession, didn’t stop their determination. Inspired by the battles of their troops against the exotic wildlife and challenges faced in a strange land, the ponies of New Mareland began to take pride in the New Mareland spirit, a unique blend of humour, optimism and stubbornness in face of adversity.

Traders turned away from Griffons towards Equestrian business, and speculative investors bought big in the hope of big payoffs in expanding exploitation of the unique potential of Griffonia on Equestria's behalf. However, it soon became obvious that Equestrian trade policy was turning inwards instead. On the 29th October 999, the New Manehattan stock market crashed. In what has become known as Black Wednesday, thousands of New Marelanders suddenly found themselves without a job and the nation's economy fell into turmoil. Many citizens turned to Equestria for help, but the homeland did little to help alleviate their problems, instead chiding them for their lack of regulations and carelessness.

### A New Future

Many New Marelanders, now feeling abandoned by Princess Celestia, have begun campaigning for the Commonwealth to seek full independence. This is championed by several charismatic ponies such as Gladmane, Kingfisher and Duke Haygle. However, the newly appointed Governor-General Jet Set still maintains a solid power base in the Commonwelth Congress with popular support among the ponies of New Mareland.

With support from Equestria, he has his own plans to fix the nation and maintain the status quo. The imminent issue New Mareland has to tackle is the economic depression. While many have their own ideas on how New Mareland should recover, some are more extreme than the others.

### Clouds of War

New Mareland is also a peaceful nation. If faced by a war the population will need to be rallied behind the cause, there is also a sizable griffon minority in the nation who will fiercely reject any idea of fighting in a "pony's" war.

However, New Mareland starts with a strong industrial base, particularly in its aviation industry. A strong Air Force, combined with a well dug in army, will be key in New Mareland's defence. The ponies of New Mareland find themselves in a crisis, and are surrounded by evil-minded nations in this foreign land.

Will they hold firm and survive? Or will these be the last years of New Mareland in its long history?

### Monarchs

1. Celestia and Luna
2. Twilight Sparkle