Even disregarding the precedent previous MLP generations set, the current incarnation remains intended for little girls. Because it's a quality show, its appeal reaches to a wider audience, but that doesn't change the fact that little girls are its primary audience. Think of something like Sesame Street that has the intention of educating children, but has qualities, references, and variety in characters that help make it something the parents can watch and enjoy as well, in contrast to a generically saccharine show like Barney & Friends.