Equestrian Journals

Introduction

"Fossil records indicate that the three extant pony races have existed, more or less physically unaltered, for well over 50,000 years [18] and ruins suggest that rudimentary civilizations have existed for at least 10,000 years [19]. However, written records of pony history even just back to the early years of Celestia's thousand year reign are sparse. What is known of the few centuries prior to the Princess Luna's imprisonment on the moon stem primarily from the recent (relatively speaking) recovery of the Library of Gnosis. The LoG also provides some hints about the culture of Equestria prior to Celestia's rule, but they almost raise more questions than they answer. Written history from the time before Celestia's reign are mysteriously absent, save a small corpus of stone engraved writings found in ruins. A presentation of the current scholarly consensus of Equestria's history is presented as a timeline later in this document. For the detail oriented reader, excellent reviews and contextual analysis of the LoG documents are given in references [1,3,6-9]. A review of the ruin writings may be found in reference [4].

Known history can be crudely broken into five time periods: Pre-Ascension Era, Equestrian Expansion, The Reign of the Two Sisters, Celestia's Thousand Year Reign, and the current era, which is referred to as The Second Reign. What is known of the Pre-Ascension era is limited to a document called the Preparation Accounts, which detail the Old Kingdom's monarchy and their preparations for the Ascension of the Regal Sisters. The Preparation Accounts were found in the Library of Gnosis, along with numerous other writings detailing the the astronomical, mathematical, and economic knowledge of the time. While these other documents do give a point of reference on how far we have come over the centuries, it has taken scholars a great deal of contextual analysis to tease out any details of the Old Kingdom's culture from them. From this type of analysis, for instance, it is known that one of the primary motivations for the Ascension plot was to rid the Old Kingdom of predators. The fear of predators appears to have shaped a number of aspects in equine culture, the most significant of which is the near ubiquity of adherence to a religion which we only know as "worship of the Goddess". Goddess worship is mentioned a number of times in the Preparation Accounts, but here it appears only as a vehicle for collecting magical energy to power the Ascension. According to the account the collection of energy through Goddess worship lasted centuries, perhaps even millenia. Contextual analysis reveals that the population at large did not fully comprehend the real nature of the religion's purpose, but it is clear that it also brought some measure of comfort to the population following predation. Apart from this, however, details on Goddess worship are scant at best and even more odd is that no temple ruins to the goddess have been located. The best that can be said is that the religion was completely extinguished in the years following the Ascension in favor of worshipping the Regal Sisters.

Following the Ascension, Equine armies of the Old Kingdom, aided by the Regal Sisters' power, conquered and secured the borders of what is now known to be Equestria. This period is normally thought to have taken a mere fifty years [15-16], although some contend that conflicts with Ancient Predators continued for as long as two hundred years [10]. During this time what was left of the Old Kingdom's monarchy that produced the Regal Sisters dissolved in favor of Celestia's governance. The remnants of the monarchy is still visible today in the noble lineage of the court in Canterlot, but their powers are significantly reduced. Most of the evidence from this time stems from recovered warpony artifacts. Scholarly activity appears to have been suppressed either due to the need for military power or resource collection, so most accounts of this time are second hand produced many years aftewards. It is also known that during this time Equestria's population expanded very rapidly, which is evident from the mass graves that mark the death of this Conquest Boom generation. Although the Ancient Predators were driven out in the Expansion, one of the most difficult challenges facing ponydom throughout this time was coming to grips with the consequences of the Regal Sisters acquiring total control of the weather and seasons. By all accounts this time was one of high mortality and starvation while the Sisters themselves came to grips with managing the physical aspects of the world. During this time, traditions of the Winter Wrap-up and the Running of the Leaves were started, although they took some time to be developed. Scholarly writings in the few centuries after the Expansion tend to focus on principles of maintaining balance with nature -- which continues even to this day.

Four hundred and seventy four years of relatively peaceful development in Equestria under both Sisters followed their Ascension and the Expansion Era (depending on how you define the end of the latter era). The sisters' dual reign ended abruptly with a falling out between the two sisters, the story of which is well known, and resulted in Celestia banishing her then crazed sister Luna to the Moon. Thus began the Thousand Year Reign of Celestia. Years since have used this moment as a reference; this review is being written in the Twelve hundredth and fifty eighth year of Celestia's Reign (abbreviated 1258 CR). Despite the return of Luna, now 258 years ago, the practice of recording years in CR has remained."

- Preface to "Introduction to Modern Culture", circa 1258 CR

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The World of Equestria

Equestrian Time Line

BA = Before Ascension
AA = After Ascension
CR = Celestia's Reign

77 BA: Gnosis creates the Summer Triangle Project.
75 BA: Vega, mother to Midnight Star, is born and impressed into the Summer Triangle Project.
45 BA: Summer Triangle creates Shard of Numar.  The artifact fails to meet specifications Gnosis desired.
20 BA: Regal Sisters, Celestia and Luna are born.
19 BA: Vega dies, Midnight Star is born.  Summer Triangle goes underground, Shard of Numar disappears.
5 BA: Shard of Numar resurfaces and is transformed into the Elements of Harmony during Midnight Star's Awakening.  The Elements are embedded in five pony friends of Midnight Star.  Midnight Star and her five friends are referred to as the Six.
0 BA/AA: Ascension of the Regal Sisters.
1 AA: The Six are slain in battle with the Ancient Predators.  The elements of Harmony are collected from their bodies by Celestia.
50 AA: Military conquest of Equestria largely complete.
60 AA: Dissolution of the Old Kingdom's institutions is underway.
100 AA: Seasons begin to stabilize in Equestria.  Celestia and Luna establish a largely communal libertarian society.  Regal sisters assume religious authority.
~500 AA: Luna is banished to the moon.  Celestia's reign begins.  Elements of Harmony are stored in the Everfree Forest.
200-250 CR: City wars begin and ultimately are suppressed.  Celestia establishes a stronger central authority as a result.
260 CR: A Federal Constitution and Equine bill of rights is drafted.
500 CR: Rural revolts against federal taxes.
700 CR: Red Dragon terrorizes Equestria.  The dragon is eventually slain.
800 CR: Canterlot loses its crown as the largest city to Manehatten.
850-950 CR: Industrialization begins after discovery of unicorns with metal seeking magic.
983 CR: Midnight Star and the rest of the Six is believed to have been reincarnated in Ponyville.
1000 CR: Return of Nightmare Moon.  The reincarnated Six defeat her and Luna is returned.
1059 CR: The last of the Reincarnated Six, Pinkie Pie, dies.  Elements of Harmony are returned to Celestia.
1200 CR: First Aircraft is invented.  Ponies begin survey of Everfree forest from above.
1220 CR: Contact with world outside of Equestria is established.
1230-50 CR: Trade flows along airship lines are established.  Wealth in Equestria increases dramatically.  Regal Sisters establish the Trade Commission, headquartered in Canterlot.
1269  CR: Manehatten stock exchange established.

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The Equestrian National Anthem

"BLESSED BODIES OF THE HEAVENS,
SUN AND MOON OF GREATEST LIGHT,
BATHE US IN YOUR WARM EMBRACES,
SHIELD US WITH YOUR PEERLESS MIGHT.

HELP US TO STAND FIRM AS MOUNTAINS,
DOING RIGHT AND SHUNNING WRONG.
MAY WE FIND OUR STRENGTH IN FRIENDSHIP,
UNITE OUR HERD AS ONE GROUP STRONG!

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Description

Equestria is a medium sized land-locked country, approximately the size of Germany, surrounded by mountain ranges on all sides. There are a few passes in the mountains that lead out of Equestria, but these are buried deep in forest. The terrain within Equestria contains plains, temperate forests, desert, and mountain ranges. The most ancient towns and cities are situated in mountain valleys, but some of the newer (and larger) cities are on the planes. The desert areas are, for the most part, unpopulated, except at the fringes.

Inhabitants

Present-day Equestria is populated largely by herbivorous creatures, the largest of which include: Equines and Bovines. Equines are the dominant population by many measures. There are three equine species: Earth Pony, Pegasus Pony, and Unicorn pony. Some carnivorous creatures exist, but are limited in range to the eastern borderland forest known as the Everfree forest. Within the Everfree forest, there are a veritable zoo of creatures. This account focuses primarily on the pony controlled region of Equestria, however, and within this domain only herbivores are present (with few domesticated exceptions).

Pony Population Centers

Canterlot, the governmental seat of Celestia's rule, houses nearly a hundred thousand ponies. More populous cities, such as Manehatten, Fillydelphia, Coltimore, and Trottingham exist. The majority of the pony population, however, exist in rural villages with a few hundred to several thousand ponies in each. These villages are dotted throughout mountain valleys and the central plains region.

Equestrian Sociology

"Century after century, the census reports that Equestria's population remains nearly static [2]. With an apparent abundance of food and space, what limits the growth of the pony population? Many of the theories to date attempt to model the phenomenon by invoking social or cultural limitations to reproductive drive [42]. These theories however fail to explain recently surveyed [53] attitudes towards foal-bearing and the reported occurance rate sexually transmitted infection [15]. Recent data, vide infra, suggests an external force is modulating population growth at physiological level."

- Canton Scrollsworth, abstract in Equestrian Journal of Biosociology, circa 1267 CR

Pony Politics

Ostensibly Equestria is a Monarchy with Celestia and Luna as its co-rulers. In reality, the Regal Sisters devote most of their time to maintenance of Equestria's physical properties (see Management of Equestria), than they spend on organization of social structure. Thus most ponies would say that they live in a democracy, where the majority of governmental activity starts and ends at the city level. Outsiders to Equestria refer to the country as a libertarian monarchy. There are some federal level laws, saliently the pony bill of rights and laws governing inter-city interactions and trade. To handle inter-city relations and manage disputes, Canterlot has designated certain cities to be county seats and has placed courts there to handle such matters. Throughout the centuries the role of canterlot has waxed and waned, but by most standards it has always played a minimal governmental role. There is a minimal federal tax to support the maintenance of roads, county courts, public education, and the royal army. Nowadays, however, the majority of Federal funding comes from heavy taxation of export revenue. Canterlot controls the sole Zeppelin port, which is the only high volume means of moving goods into or out of Equestria. The level of taxation on exports is no small source of friction between royalty and business ponies. The population at large, however, is largely oblivious of these issues, as export trade has only been in existence for less than a half century. It is unknown how much wealth the Royalty have benefited from taxation and for what purpose they are using these funds. Some economic estimates place the Royal revenue at several billion bits per year.

Management of Equestria

A consequence of Celestia and Luna's ascension was the complete relegation of the physical properties of Equestria to their management. Everything from the rise and fall of the sun, to weather, gravity, atmospheric composition, etc came under the sisters' direct management. Fortunately for Equestria, this was foreseen and thus the Royal sisters were mostly prepared and equipped to handle the basics. Unfortunately, it took several centuries to iron out the details. In the meantime the Expansion Era was fraught with many ecological mis-managements. Nowadays, however, Equestria's ecology is highly stable and well managed, thanks to an efficiently distributed workload. Pegasi control weather, earth ponies are predominantly responsible for land maintenance, and unicorns assist in various ways. This tightly controlled management of Equestria is both its great strength and political weakness. Should harm ever come to the Regal Sisters it is unknown what manner of chaos Equestria will be thrust into. On the other hand, the absolute power of the Regal Sisters has allowed them to create a near perfect defense of Equestria. A few invasions were attempted after the Ascension and Expansion, but thus far all have been met with utter and complete disaster. Celestia has been known to employ localized depressurization, oxygen depletion, and mountain creation to destroy or block armies. Furthermore, the high predictability of weather and land management allows Equestria to have extremely stable and market responsive agricultural output. In the recent era of trade with outside nations via zepplin lines, Equestria, under the guidance of Finance Minister Hoofshire Bathaway, has developed a reputation for a shrewd commodity and export driven economy.

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The World Beyond Equestria

Introduction

The known world exists within the borders of the ley lines. Within it, creatures of every kind co-exist — some reluctantly, but for the most part, peacefully; accepting Celestia’s rule as necessary, but not absolute.

It is separated into three distinct parts: the eastern regions, under Celestia’s influence; the Old World, long since abandoned and mysterious; and the Echo, an unexplored breach of the ley line, directly west of Celestia’s Influence.

Beyond the borders of the ley lines is the Lost World.

Ley lines

No one crosses the ley line. Not without a death wish.

The ley lines are veins of magic that course beneath the surface of the world. An immense and unpredictable magic flow bathes the areas in and around the ley lines. It projects an aurora from the ground to the top of the sky, forming the ley wall (aka ley lights). That magic therein is so dense and so powerful, that it’s impossible to cross them, said to be fatal for any life that comes across it. Creatures subjected to it usually fall victim to ley sickness or horn rot.

Ley magic has an adverse effect on climate and the magnetism of the world. And for that reason, it is impossible to determine the size and location of the known world, relative to its planet.

Some believe it’s our cage, hiding from us a world crest with unimaginable wealth and it’s wonders. But some are so obsessed about finding the light, that they forget to squint before it blinds them.

The Great Races

For hundreds of thousands of years, many races and sub-races have called the known world home. Within Celestia’s Influence, six of them are its most influential, and they share an uneasy alliance that has existed for longer than anypony can remember.

• Equines (earth ponies, unicorns, pegasi, sea ponies, zebras)
• Cervidae (elk, white-tailed deer, moose, reindeer)
• Camelids
• Griffin
• Carnivorae (diamond dogs, wolves, bears)
• Dragons

Other major races: llamas, buffalo, sheep, goat, rhino, giraffe, quagga, hippocampi, antelope, cattle, ibex, penguins, wolves, dogs and bears (There are others, these are just the best known)

Wild creatures of myth: Hydra, Lindworm, Manticore, Moon owl, Phoenix, Simourgh …

The Great Leaders

The ley lines exude a passive energy into the atmosphere. It exists everywhere. In small amounts, it’s harmless, but greater amounts can have an incredible affect on geography (climate, planetary magnetism, etc).

By Celestia’s decree, powerful creatures, like herself, Luna or the Cervidae Council, have a responsibility to moderate that energy.

You’ll notice the further you get away from Celestia’s Influence, the less predictable the terrain becomes.

The big names, representing the six great races (within Celestia’s Influence) are:

• Princess Celestia & Luna (Equestria)
• Lord Tyr (Griffin)
• The Cervidae Elder Council, “Eternity’s Council” (Cervidae)
• Don Pi, Don Quixote, Don Jezi and Don Comp (Camelu)
• Lady Zavros (Zebrica)

Other great leaders exist outside of Celestia’s Influence or her political circle, this list is not exhaustive.

A Lost World

The world beyond the ley line is the “Lost World”.

It’s land is unexplored, and little is known about it. But legend tells that before the time of the ley lines, during the elk God King’s reign, many sinister forces were banished to it. And the land has been associated with terror and nightmare ever since.

The Old World

What is the Old World? The answer revolves around the legend of the Elk God King, Mundus, who pre-existed Celestia and Luna by nearly 200,000 years — whose benevolent reign, legend says, had lasted for longer than time.

The legend goes that during his long reign, he created the ley lines as a pure, passive river of energy that aided in the prosperity of his world.

Mundus later foresaw his son, Arion, betraying him and trying to destroy the world, but he was too kind to smite his beloved son. Instead, it drove him mad, waiting for the day when it would happen, and in his madness, a millennia of his tyranny ensued. Nothing was able to match his might or reason with him.

Only much, much later did Arion return to slay him, freeing the world from despair. But after learning of what his father foresaw, he feared that he would become this way, and thus, imprisoned himself in the ley lines.

Some say that it is his deep regret that poisons the ley lines.

The great mountain in the Old World is said to be where Mundus fell, and the ley line beyond it is Arion’s fabled prison.

The Echo

Over the course of a thousand years, the ley lines between the known world and the echo have deteriorated, revealing an ancient and mysterious land.

The Echo is largely unexplored, but some speculate that the true reason for this is it can’t be explored — that the landscape changes on its own.

The name of the Echo was adapted from an old ponytale about the fictional “living country” of Ecco. The story goes that a god lived there that would grant any wish for those truly pure of heart. One day, one such pony came to him, and wished that the god never let her be found by her cruel father. The god obliged, trapping her in his vast body, and changed his form every year so that her father would never be able to find her.