MLP AU Races · 2:44am May 17th
To those who read this blog post and its follow-ups, I'm going to elaborate on the races of this AU. As stated in the first blog covering this MLP-AU, all races are regular anthros, human-shaped hands and bipedal body shape with tails, wings, and horns, but, hooves instead of feet (unless otherwise noted). Keep in mind, this only focuses on the sentient races.
Pony races
Primary races
Earth ponies
Earth ponies possess neither horns nor wings, but, compensate with having the greatest physical strength. Earth ponies don't typically have magical aptitudes, but, for those that do, it's commonly earth magic. In combat, earth ponies are generally brawlers.
Pegasi
Pegasi (pegasus if singular) possess wings that give them the ability to fly when combined with their biological wind magic, keen eyesight, and enhanced speed. A pegasus without an aptitude for wind magic is extremely rare. In combat, pegasi use their speed to serve as either scouts or rogues.
Unicorns
Unicorns possess horns that allow them to focus magic (biological or general) through. Because of their natural magical inclinations, they commonly have at least two aptitudes with three being considered quite rare. While not as strong as earth ponies or as fast as pegasi, they compensate with their greater intelligence. In combat, unicorns are typically mages.
Alicorns
Alicorns are a rare breed that possess traits from earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns in equal measure. Their magical potency exceeds that of even unicorns. Because of their rarity, alicorns are typically either nobility or royalty. Male alicorns are especially rare. While not immortal, alicorns are very difficult to kill. In combat, they tend to be balanced fighters.
Hybrid races
Races in this section started as hybrids of pony and other races that, over several generations, became a race of their own.
Kirins
Kirins are the descendants of the result of a union between a drake (male dragon) and a unicorn mare. Compared to normal unicorns, kirins have bushier manes that wrap around their heads, slightly longer ears, curved/branching horns, scaly carapaces on their muzzles and backs, thin tails, and tufted, cloven hooves. Like their unicorn ancestors, they have high magical inclinations and mammalian reproduction. Thanks to their dragon ancestors, a kirin without an aptitude for fire magic is almost unheard of. Additionally, kirins are one of the few ponies to be capable of eating meat, though, most prefer not to. In combat, kirins are generally mages.
Hippogriffs
Hippogriffs are the descendants of the result of a union between a male griffon and an earth pony mare. Due to racial tensions between ponies and griffons in the olden days, first-generation hippogriffs were rare. As the tensions subsided, more were born and today, they're an independently thriving race. As they inherited their partial eagle physiology from griffons, they possess keener eyesight than that of a pegasus. Hippogriffs commonly have aptitudes for earth, wind, darkness magic, or any combination thereof. Like both their ancestors, they're capable of mammalian reproduction. In combat, hippogriffs generally prefer archery, magic if they have aptitudes, or a combination of both. Thanks to their griffon heritage, they're capable of eating meat and have less reservations of doing so compared to kirins.
Thestrals
Thestrals are descendants of the result of a union between a drake and a pegasus mare. Compared to regular pegasi, thestrals possess bat/dragon-like wings and sharp fangs. Over several generations, they began to develop more bat-like traits such as being nocturnal, more sensitive hearing, and use of echolocation. First-generation thestrals commonly had aptitudes for fire, wind, or darkness magic. These days, a thestral with an aptitude for fire magic is considered a rarity. Like the above hybrids, they possess mammalian reproduction. In combat, they generally prefer a ninja-esque fighting style. While capable of eating meat, thestrals these days generally prefer fruit.
Legally accepted races
These breeds were once considered separate species, but, were legally accepted as new pony races.
Changelings
Changelings are an equine race with largely insectoid characteristics. They possess biological magic that allows them to transform into anything as long as it physically exists (magically adding or subtracting mass depending on the size of the new form). Their shapeshifting magic has made them competent diplomats or skilled actors. Because of their ability to manipulate their very biology, it's unclear exactly how their reproduction works. Changelings are largely omnivorous. They typically have aptitudes for light magic. In combat, changelings largely focus on improvisation, which their shapeshifting compliments.
Kelpies
Kelpies are an equine race capable of shapeshifting. Unlike changelings, they can only change into two forms: one for thriving on land and one for thriving in water. In their land forms, they resemble earth ponies with manes and tails resembling seaweed. In their aquatic forms, their hands are webbed, their legs become one fish-like tail, and they possess gills to breathe underwater alongside their lungs. Either way, they possess mammalian reproduction. They're omnivorous, though, typically prefer meat. As expected, they typically have aptitudes for water magic. They have an unflattering reputation for luring unsuspecting beings to a watery grave with their singing.
Hippocampi
Hippocampi (hippocampus if singular) are another aquatic pony race. They possess the upper body of a pony and the lower body of a fish or dolphin. Unlike kelpies, they can't shapeshift and require salt water to survive. While unable to shapeshift, they can use their tailfins as makeshift feet for walking on land. Like kelpies, they're capable of breathing on land or underwater. However, being on land for too long without a means of staying hydrated weakens them. They're an omnivorous race with a preference for seafood. As expected, they typically have aptitudes for water magic.
Non-pony races
Griffons
Griffons are creatures with the top half resembling an eagle with the talons and wings of such, whereas the bottom half is clearly that of a lion. They have keener eyesight than pegasi (though, not as keen as hippogriffs) and the ability to fly through their biological wind magic. They typically have wind and/or darkness magic. They're mainly carnivorous, but, can eat other things. As their reproductive organs are located on their lion bottom halves, they have mammalian reproduction.
Cattlekind
Cattlekind are a sentient race that don't typically have aptitudes, but, compensate for this with great physical strength. Males (bulls) typically have jobs as laborers or fighters while females (cows) typically have jobs as farmhands and dairy providers. Their milk can be safely ingested by other races as long as the drinker isn't lactose intolerant and promotes strong bones.
Bisons
Bisons are considered distant relatives of cattlekind. They typically roam in open spaces.
Yaks
Yaks are considered distant relatives of cattlekind with thicker fur suited for colder climates. They tend to be sore losers.
Zebras
Zebras, while resembling striped ponies, are more closely related to donkeys than ponies. They're an intelligent race that commonly have aptitudes for water and earth magic, which they can combine to make plant magic.
Dragons
Dragons are an intelligent race of reptilian creatures. They are generally more powerful than any other species and are regarded by many as being the strongest race. They’re classified as monsters AND a sentient race. Some dragons prefer to stick with being seen as creatures to be feared.
Breezies
Breezies are a fairy-like race resembling pegasi, but, have butterfly-like wings and antennae and magical potency greater than that of unicorn, but, not as great as an alicorn. Because of them being an inherently magical race, it's common for them to have up to four or five aether and mind spells. Despite their equine appearance, they prefer to be thought of as a separate race entirely.
Have more questions? PM me.
Neat details
5781091
Thanks,
Cool
5781094
Thanks.
5781096
No prob
Nice way to classify all these races. Especially some that are meant to be offspring between two specific races. I mean Kirin are the offspring between pony and dragon which gave fans hope it wasn't farfetched. But then when Kirin were introduced they wrote them off like their own species that have two forms with their Nirik forms being more flammable. Even Twilight mentioned Hippogriff's were part pony part eagle
5781100
The hippogriffs being pony/griffon hybrids is from actual mythology.
I like this.
5781102
Yeah was just going off how Twilight described them in the movie, as another example of not directly saying that different races can breed resulting in another species
5781129
Thanks.
5781130
In my take on the movie, I have something planned along the lines of this:
TWILIGHT: Hippogriffs are half pony, half eagle creatures.
RAINBOW: How would that work?
SUNSET: I can field that query. From what I’ve read, first-generation hippogriffs first occurred thousands of years ago when male griffons began breeding with earth pony mares. In those days, relationships between ponies and griffons were tenuous at best, meaning hippogriffs were a pretty rare occurrence and the griffon/mare couples didn’t have strong enough feelings for each other to have more than one. Feeling they didn’t belong to either pony or griffon cultures, the hippogriffs flew to Mt. Aris to make their own society. While rare, there was enough for them to create a thriving society for generations to come.
5781135
Clever
5781137
Shows how well-educated Sunset is, right?
Again, this is excellent work concerning the descriptions of the assorted races.
5781179
Thanks.