Silly Druid

Obviously not. The ponies from the TV show are living as adults. They have their own homes, jobs, and no parental supervision. Even Princess Celestia acknowledged Twilight as having grown up. The world for EQG is on its own timeline.

@Samurai Equine @lyrabetes3939 They can still be the same age if you assume ponies grow up and become independent from their parents earlier than humans. As for Celestia and Luna, it is possible that their EqG versions are more than meets the eye...

@PawelS I don't think the writers put that much thought into it. The TV show's primary target demographic was little girls. They probably wouldn't pick up on little details like how the mane cast live like adults because they are horses. Everything about them and their world is pure fantasy. Things change when you have human characters. Kids notices details just a bit more. If they still want to attract that little girl audience, making their human counterparts teenagers was as old as they were willing to go. Young enough to still make into Barbie doll knock-offs and do girly things with the toys.

I don't fully understand the logic or lack-there-of, but little kids don't always look up to fictional children. They can often be annoying, almost like holding a mirror to kids in the worst way possible. They admire older characters because of the freedoms and privileges they have, but at the same time, there are plenty of kids who think adults are out of touch or "just don't understand". Teenage years tend to be the sweet spot. Young enough to still be relatable and attainable in a few years, old enough to have more freedoms and liberties, but still not quite an adult yet.