Equestria

*This article is about the country of Equestria. For the continent, see Equestria (continent). For the region, see Equestria (region).*

**Equestria** is a country in the northern half of the continent of the same name as well as one of its regions. Its capital is the city of Canterlot.

### Formation

Equestria was formed after a blizzard in Gaia caused massive crop failure. The lack of food prompted the southward expansion of Gaia, Icaria and Ceria in search of more fertile lands.

When the three nations claimed the same land, they formed a council, the Council of the Tribes, to reach an agreement. The leaders of the tribes, Chancellor Puddinghead (of Gaia), General Hurricane (of Icaria) and Princess Platinum (of Ceria) sent their assistants (Smart Cookie, Private Pansy and Clover the Clever, respectively) as representatives to the council.

Ultimately, joint governance was decided and the Council of the Tribes became the government of the new land, which was named Equestria. As part of the agreement, the new land would have free movement of goods and creatures with the three nations.

The Council of the Tribes also took on the role of drafting a constitution and code of laws for Equestria, serving as its legislative body.

Two Alicorn fillies (Princess Celestia and Princess Luna) were chosen to oversee the council when they grew up to ensure a lasting neutrality due to the long lifespan of Alicorns. Star Swirl, the mentor of Clover the Clever, took on the role of mentoring the princesses until they were of governing age.

Ponyville was settled as the capital of the new territory with creatures from the three nations. The Castle of the Two Sisters was built to be the eventual home for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna and the power seat of the overseers of the council.

As time passed, the three countries became further consolidated as the open borders with Equestria greatly encouraged the movement of goods and creatures between the three nations as it was legal as long as it passed by Equestria.

This freedom of trade and movement together with the fertility of the new land brought a wave of economic growth. The three countries started drafting free trade and movement agreements between themselves directly.

As Princess Celestia and Princess Luna became of governing age, they stepped in to fulfill their roles as overseers, getting their cutie marks (a sun for Princess Celestia, a moon for Princess Luna) from Star Swirl himself.

As their first major decision, they took the first steps to consolidate the nations under a single country with a shared constitution and code of laws and entered negotiations with the leaders of the three nations. As part of the agreement, the Council of the Tribes continued holding the legislative power of the land and remained as a power check on the princesses. At the same time, the Equestrian Royal Military was created to give the new government the power to defend itself without the militaries of its constituent states and ensure its independence from internal or external powers.

During this consolidation, Equestria remained the name of the part of the country consisting of the new territories even as the country absorbed the three nations. Thus, it is at this point that the distinction between the region of Equestria and the country of Equestria first appears.

While Princess Celestia and Princess Luna became the rulers of Equestria, they rejected to upgrade their rank to queens or empresses to keep the consolidation from being seen as a power grab, although this gesture was merely symbolic and had no bearing in their authority.

### Early expansion

Not long after its formation, Nocturnia joined the union, becoming the fourth nation to become part of the Council of the Tribes. Following this, a small Batpony diaspora began forming in Ponyville with Nocturnian immigration.

As the fertile southern lands started being turned into farmland, Ponyville experienced a food surplus which was followed by a population boom. Around this time, the ideology of panequinism started to take shape, inspired by the success of different races coming together, calling for the unity of all Ponies under a single nation.

Inspired by the new ideology, Equestria began expanding, invading and conquering Ponicia as well as starting a southwards expansion that displaced populations of Zebras and Cattle and culminated in the invasion of Hetra.

However, it was at this time that the new ideology started causing controversy. Discrimination among Pony races was still common and a significant obstacle for the ideology's appeal and the forced annexations and displacements opened questions about whether the actions of the government could truly be considered as promoting the harmony that the new ideology supposedly strived for. The question of whether non-Pony species should be included in the goal or what the system that unites the races should be like also lacked a universal answer.

As ideological questions started bubbling, a vampirism outbreak struck Ponyville. The smaller and newer Batpony population to be blamed for the disease, which resulted in pogroms against them. The pogroms, together with the invasions and displacements, were considered another problem that the new ideology had to face.

Upholding harmony, Princess Luna defended the Batponies and called for the end of the violence, but that caused her to become unpopular among other races as she was seen as protecting those who caused the disease.

Princess Luna subsequently called for the Ponyville constabulary to protect the Batponies, but either they were uncapable or unwilling to stop the pogroms. Luna then sent her personal guard to protect the victims, but this was taken as a coup attempt as the guard took over security in Ponyville.

Celestia called for the withdrawing of the guard, but Luna refused as it was the only element acting for the prevention of local violence. The disagreement between the princesses raised tensions both in Ponyville and the government.

As bouts of violence and discrimination continued, Batponies started to flee Ponyville for safer places, soon becoming a rare sight before disappearing in the area. Many returned to Nocturnia.

### Celestial Era

In the early 7th century, a total solar elipse happened over Ponyville. Amid the eclipse, fights with Luna's guard break out. Several night guards and civilians are killed, and the last great pogrom of Ponyville takes place, driving the last of the Batponies out.

Princess Luna, already unpopular, seen as a tyrant attempting to overtake Princess Celestia and being considered to be the princess of the moon, is blamed for the chaos. These events would later inspire the Nightmare Moon myth.

In response to her unpopularity, Princess Luna stepped down from her role and left Princess Celestia as the only ruling princess of Equestria, starting the Celestial Era.

After these events, Princess Celestia abandoned the Castle of the Two Sisters at a time where the population of Ponyville had been quickly dwindling due to Equestria's expansion, epidemics and the fleeing of Batponies. A new castle was built in Canterlot to become the new royal residence and the seat of government was relocated there. As such, Canterlot becoming Equestria's capital is also considered to be one of the events of the transition to this era.

Ponyville soon became completely abandoned and was slowly overtaken by nature. The forest that stood in the location of old Ponyville from then on became known as the the Everfree Forest.

This era saw a continuing expansion of Equestria, which invaded and conquered Colthage. During this time, the Equestrian government promoted a type of panequinism that strived for conquering more non-Pony species, justifying the conquest of Iskayntinsuyu and Shahr as well. An invasion of Farasi was also attempted but ultimately failed.

The expansion of this era culminated in the invasion of Qilinia during the Equestrian-Qilinian war and the creation of the colony of Loong Kong.

This era also saw unprecedented scientific progress and a quick development of Equestria's infrastructure fueled by the new technologies.

### Contemporary Era

About four centuries after the solar eclipse over Ponyville, a similar eclipse happened over Canterlot, causing unrest. During the eclipse, a plot to overthrow Princess Celestia was attempted, taking advantage of the unrest, but it was ultimately unsuccessful.

This started an era of political instability where the fear of Celestia being the target of an assassination attempt became a real fear among government officials as she lacked a successor and it was harder to protect from internal threats than external ones.

Princess Celestia made the decision to recall Princess Luna from her retirement and have her reinstated to her princess role, should anything happen to Princess Celestia. The decision was also made to begin training a young alicorn, Twilight Sparkle, to succeed the princesses in the event of their retirement, death or unavailability.

## Politics

### Government

Equestria is a parliamentary polyarchy.

The Equestrian government is lead by one or multiple monarchs which typically hold the title of princess or prince. The current monarchs of Equestria are Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

#### Legislative

The Equestrian parliament, known as the Council of the Tribes, bears a representative from each Equestrian province. It began with three representatives with the founding of the country, one for each of the three tribes that came together to form Equestria. More seats were added as Equestria incorporated more provinces.

The election of each representative is handled in each respective province, and the manner in which the election is performed is not uniform from one province to another; some provinces appoint local nobles, some appoint military leaders and some hold elections.

#### Executive

The Ministry of Harmony constitutes the head of the government. It rules in the name of the princesses and their work is delegated to it. Its leader, the Head Minister, is appointed directly by the princesses.

This ministry leads 6 minor ministries, which focus on specific aspects of the government.

* Ministry of Generosity (society, welfare)
* Ministry of Honesty (agriculture, industry)
* Ministry of Kindness (healthcare, police, firefighters)
* Ministry of Laughter (culture, entertainment)
* Ministry of Loyalty (military, foreign affairs)
* Ministry of Magic (education, research)

### Administrative divisions

Equestria is divided into territories, which can be provinces or colonies.

Provinces have relatively independent systems of government but still follow Equestrian law. There are the following Equestrian provinces:

* Buffalo Nation
* Colthage
* Equestria
* Gaia (also known as the Earth Pony lands)
* Hetra
* Icaria (also known as the Pegasus lands)
* Nocturnia (also known as the Batpony lands)
* Ponicia
* Shahr
* Ceria (also known as the Unicorn lands)

Colonies have no representation in parliament and don't chose their government. Instead, the government of colonies is chosen by the parliament. There are the following Equestrian colonies:

* Loong Kong

Colonies usually either end up becoming independent or becoming an Equestrian province.

Collectively, the regions of Ceria, Icaria and Gaia (sometimes including the Equestria region and arguably Nocturnia) are known as "old Equestria" or "Paleoequestria", and other regions are known as "new Equestria" or "Neoequestria".

### Ideology

Equestrian politics revolve around the ideology of harmony.

At its core, the idea of harmony is that creatures of differents races are stronger when working together to tap into their different strengths.

Obstensibly, only fringe elements of Equestrian politics question this idea, although there are vastly different ideological groups that claim harmony as a tenet and different interpretations of what harmony entails.

Harmony coalesces into a sister ideology known as Panequinism. Panequinism argues that Equestria's ultimate goal is to rule over all creatures that fall under the harmony umbrella to access their strength and resources. This ideology has been used to justify imperialism and the conquest of countries on Equestria's behalf.

### Military

Equestria's constituent territories are allowed to have armed forces of their own.

The country's government has its own armed forces, the Equestrian Royal Military, to ensure its independence in the face of internal or external threats.

## Education and research

### Basic education

Primary education is mandatory for all Equestria-born citizens by the Royal Decree of Basic Education which also standarizes the matters taught.

On top of basic mathematics, reading and history, Earth Pony students (and other flightless, magicless creatures) are taught plant biology and gardening, Pegasi (and other flying creatures) are taught flight and unicorns (and other magic-wielding creatures) are taught basic magic.

After education is finished, able-bodied Equestria-born citizens must fulfill 4 years of mandatory civil service.

For flightless creatures, the civil service consists of working in state-owned farms.

For flying creatures, it consists of weather service where they haul water spraying carts over dry and hot areas to cool them down and to irrigate crops that lack irrigation infrastructure.

Magic-wielding creatures have the option of attending Magic College instead. Creatures performing military service are exempt from civil service as well.

### Astronomy

While pre-Equestrian astronomical models placed Equus at the center of the universe, the promotion of Celestial worship led to a heliocentric model being made official, although geocentric models remain under unofficial use by creatures that don't partake in Celestial worship. Worshippers of Luna over Celestia have also proposed selenocentric models.

## Society

### Demographics

Equestria's population is majorly Ponies, especially in the old Equestria regions (Ceria, Icaria, Gaia, Nocturnia, region of Equestria). However, significant diasporas of other species exist. The territories of Old Equestria have immigrant diasporas while colonized territories have their native populations.

### Religion

Equestrians worship a pantheon of alicorns which are considered to have powers over different astronomical bodies. Equestrian religion is heavily inspired from ancient Icarian religion.

This pantheon may include ruling or non-ruling alicorns as well as alive or dead alicorns. Currently, state policy is to promote worship of the ruling princesses in place of any other alicorns. The worship of Celestia and the sun (and to a lesser extent Luna and the moon) has largely replaced the rest of the pantheon, although there are parts of Equestria where worship of other alicorns remains to exist, both in small villages that retain traditions and in large cities that welcome a variety of thought.

Fringe Equestrian religious movements include gnosticism, which considers alicorns to be simply particularly powerful Ponies, no more divine than other Pony races, all equal under a different god. This movement is largely present in Ponicia and it's influenced by Amlakism.

### Crime

Prisoners in Equestria get their ears tagged for easy identification.

Because of this, having a pierced ear in Equestria is seen as a criminal trait and creatures of Equestrian culture rarely wear earrings.

Initially the ears were pierced using thick nails, but as of the Prison Reform Act that revamped the prison system to focus on reformation over punishment, modern ear tags use three small needles instead creating holes that are much less noticeable and make it easier to reinsert prisoners in society.

### Race

While the Equestrian government promotes harmony and coordination among pony races as one of Equestria's major strengths and assets, racism has always been to some extent a feature of Equestrian society. Unicorn supremacism and Pegasus supremacism are especially common.

### Gender

In Equestria, leadership roles are overwhelmingly female dominated. Mares are seen as the head of their family and they are often associated with management roles as well as caretaking.

Stallions are largely associated with physical jobs.

### Drugs

Recreational usage of drugs is not illegal in Equestria but it's frowned upon by society and seen as unhealthy.

## Culture

### Clothing

Clothes are common in urban areas but uncommon in rural areas.

In cobbled urban areas hoofboots or hoofirons are worn as ungulates standing or walking on hard surfaces for extended periods of time can cause cracking and damage to hooves.

### Sports

Equestria hosts the Equestrian Games every year.

Buckball is the most popular sport in Equestria and tournaments are often held.

Bowling is another popular sport.

### Games

The Equestrian deck of cards is commonly used in card games.