Why are ponies the dominant species?

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

If we ignore that the name of the show is My Little Pony. Why are the ponies clearly the dominant species in Equestria to our knowledge?

 

They are of three races. They create beautiful architecture, art and have a defined culture. Cities like Canterlot, Manehattan, Fillydelphia and Las Pegasus. Ponies are the only know species to have technology to power their way of life. I might be wrong.. We have never seen any other race do this. You figure Griffons seem to have the knowledge to do what ponies do. We haven't seen changeling culture or how they live their lives. Do the changelings just nest at a primitive hive? Do they have skyscrapers and a power source for their hives? What about dragons?

 

How could the ponies dominate? They're the center of politics and they're not war loving despite having a massive royal guard army. Any theories to start off why races like dragons or changelings cannot enslave the ponies? Griffons seem to get along well with ponies( or might progress their relationship)

Edited November 11, 2015 by TheMarkz0ne

[Vulcan 3,255]

I like to think it's because

their leaders control the cycles of day and night and their common folk control the weather.

Then again, how sure are we that Ponies are the dominant race?

afterall , We know not the lands of the Zebra

nor the Artic norths of the Yaks.

It's likely that each species have rule over their own land

and have their part to play in the grand scheme of their world.

perhaps the yaks and zebras have rulers as powerful and ancient as Celestia and Luna.

[Steve Piranha 29,451]

We've only seen Equestria and a bit of Griffonstone so far, but other species seems to have their own settlements where they are dominant, like yaks in Yakanistan, and Zebras in wherever they live. I don't think there's a worldwide dominant species there 

[Spikey-Wikey 378]

Poniws aren't the only dominant species. There are other places in Equestria, example, in Griffonstone, the dominant species is Gryphons (I know they're called Griffons in the show, but Gryphon sounds more professional to me).

[shy0wl 484]

I always thought it was because the place that the show takes place in is called Equestria, like "equestrian", or horse.  So in Equestria horses would be the dominant race.  

 

But maybe there's unexplored areas on their world that are more centered around Griffons or some other race.  Kind of like how our world is: We have different countries, and while we do have different races of people in each country, each country is dominated by one race because they are native to that country.  If that makes any sense.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

If we're talking about only Equestria, then yes, ponies are the dominant species.  If we're talking about the world, though, we're not sure.  However, I can tell you that more than likely there's another land where ponies rule.  Again, we're not sure.

[RyaN_ 292]

I suppose the creatures made a pact to divide and claim selected lands for selected species:

Ex. Equestria for Ponies, Griffonstone for Griffons, The Bad Lands for the Changelings..

[El Duderino 879]

Well, there are TV shows that take place in America and the cast are all American, but that does not mean Americans are the most dominant nationality in the world  (despite what some Americans on the internet seem to think).

[Reading Heart 167]

Actually, if you consider the world, I can easily understand why ponies would be the dominant race, if you take all three types of ponies, and then consider their culture, they are the most cooperative, versatile and magical of the various races.   Just one of these things would make them contenders, put all of them together and you can see what I mean.

 

Gryphons don't seem to possess the same degree of cooperative or magical power, though I'll give them that the flying capability and natural weapons gives them a leg up on some of the other races.

 

Dragons are certainly physically powerful, and versatile, but they don't seem to display the degree of cooperation or magical prowess that the ponies have, they are very individualistic from what the show seems to show us.

 

Changelings seem to possess a good degree of cooperation and magical power, hower from what I can tell, their nature makes them more inclined to follow a single leader, even if that leader is stupid, then to venture out and try things as individuals, meaning they don't indicate much in the way of invention, versatility and adaptability.,. 

 

While there may be other races who display these factors, from all indications, they don't seem live close to equestria.

[best poni 1,521]

Because they're adorable! 

[Silver Letter 1,832]

Probably because they're the most resourceful and have the ability to resist ordeals to a greater extent, have immortal and powerful leaders, control the weather and are masters of magic and the earth and are blessed by the Tree of Harmony.

[ARagY 1,152]

We don't know that they're the dominant species. They're surely one of many. E.g. Griffons, Yaks, Dragons, whatever the hell that slimy thing Discord had was from

 

Ponies control the weather in Equestria, although you are right that Luna and Celestia bring up the Moon and Sun. Though, what if some other species has a ruler who rotates the planet? 

 

In any case, ponies are much more majestic than the examples I gave, so that's probably a reason

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

Because they control the Sun! If you have control over the very lifeblood of the entire world at your fingertips, you ain't going to mess with them.  Course my headcanon is that many other nations are stronger than Equestria militarily yet are held in a state of M.A.D. by the threat of Celestia getting rid of the Sun. 

[ninay 24]

Take account that there are also other species that have been somewhat introduced into the series like zebras, buffalo, cows, and mules. I also think that a lot of it depends on where the setting is taken place and "country" per se. We have yet to explore other parts of the world in the show. So who knows? Maybe there are different types of animals in different types of countries. But I wouldn't say that the ponies are the dominant species since we don't know that for sure.

[cmarston1 5,960]

Because the show is called My Little PONY not My Little Griffon or My Little Dragon.

Either that or they aren't as their are several sapient creatures with their own cultures like the Yaks, The Griffons, The Dragons and others.  It's just that ponies are the major focus of the franchise and thus the show.

[Side Bird 566]

As been said above they do control the weather along with many other things. When we were showed the slightest bit of the Yak's, Dragons, and Griffons, it seems that they are all primitive compared to Equestria. Zebra's seem to be more tribe like. I see it as the Equestrians being like the Romans, and every one else would be more like Barbarian tribes. They also have magic, which is a big boost to everything. Behind the ponies the Griffons seem to be the most advanced, though behind that every one else seems more primitive. 

 

That's my opinion, at least.

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

As been said above they do control the weather along with many other things. When we were showed the slightest bit of the Yak's, Dragons, and Griffons, it seems that they are all primitive compared to Equestria. Zebra's seem to be more tribe like. I see it as the Equestrians being like the Romans, and every one else would be more like Barbarian tribes. They also have magic, which is a big boost to everything. Behind the ponies the Griffons seem to be the most advanced, though behind that every one else seems more primitive. 

 

That's my opinion, at least.

Changelings don't seem primitive. They did almost take over Canterlot.

[J. Brony 313]

Because the show is called My Little PONY not My Little Griffon or My Little Dragon.

 

This.  

 

It doesn't mean that ponies are the dominant lifeforms on the planet.  It just means that the show focuses on them and what goes on in their homeland; Equestria.  It has been established that there are other races in existence but we have almost no information regarding them.  Thus far they've only been used as plot devices in stories written about the ponies.

[Chronamut 355]

because to be equine is to be divine

 

literally, in some cases..

[cider float 2,539]

They control the sun/moon and the weather all purposeful for growing food. All ponies seem to have magic while other species don't seem to possess it or there isn't many that do have it no doubt that's the reason the ponies get attacked by the Changelings and Tirek for their abundance of magic. They have the most advanced technology so far, they have a rich culture, and their community is most willing to work together unlike the dragons or griffins.

Edited November 11, 2015 by cider float

[Goat-kun 2,530]

It’s really quite simple. If the creature in question can be made by pouring plastic into one of the pony molds, then it’s a master race. If it can’t, then it’s an unmarketable non-pone peasant. See? Simple.

 

So now that we’ve got canon out of the way and none seems to have a brand new batch of writer’s notes that could reveal the grand purpose and ability of non-pones, let’s make this thread into a FanFicFest.

 

To truly gauge non-pone power level, we must first discard all pony plot armor, and oh colt do these puny pastel ponies have a lot of it. They should call this show My Little Armadillo. Bam! Up top! Anyway, now that ponies are all properly undressed, let’s take a look at a few prominent non-pones. 

 

Our griffon comrades, free from under the oppressive “friendship or ghetto” paradigm, can now finally begin to spread their influence throughout the region. Their common appetite for riches and conflict fuels their ever-improving war machine while their griffon pride binds them in unity. Oho, but magic! To that I say: Oho, but counters! All who have ever dipped their nose into fantasy know that there are many kinds of hunters. We have demon hunters, witch hunters, vampire hunters, dragon hunters … why not alicorn hunters? By skill, alchemy, and relic one could fell even such a lofty fiend. Besides, griffons have skull-crushing beaks, nimble feline bodies, and can dual wield. There’s no chance in Tartarus a pleb pony or a pegasus could stand against a trained griffon soldier.

 

Now for the pièce de résistance! Dragons in MLP are greedy, cowardly, and stupid, or so we are led to believe. However, the armored socks have fallen! Our big, bad, feisty elder dragonette is not only smart, greedy, tough, and strong enough to throw a Canterlot Castle tower like a puny javelin; she’s also quite familiar with magic (She’s old. She’s seen some shit). A match between her vs Mane 6 plus the alicorn princesses would go the way of Lord Dominator vs Wander, Sylvia, and Hater. Rekt? Not rekt? Tyrannosaurus rekt!

 

And now I’m out of mana. Quick, someone should do an FFF for the rest before I get my hands on a bottle.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

^ I think you win funniest post of the day, it was so funny.

[Koukatsu 5,899]

Apologies if anyone has already articulated this thought, but perhaps it's not that they're the dominant species.

Perhaps it's just because the focus is on Twilight & friends, who are ponies, and therefore visit other pony places, with rare exception.

That is to say, we see mostly ponies, because the main focus is set on a group of ponies. :v

[Flying_Endeavor 73]

And I would like to think there is a much more powerful force just waiting to be discovered across the sea. lol 

 

But well.. there has been a stunning separation of races in Equestria. I mean, the ponies did think Zecora was evil when they first saw her, just because she was a zebra. And the dragons do seem to discriminate the ponies a lot, as evident with how they reacted when they found out Spike was a messenger for the princesses, and RD did generalize Gryphons at one point. hmm.. Ouch... I made it sound like Equestria was terrible in terms of unity... lol I think that is why they are trying to unite Equestria in the current show. lol 

[sweetolebob18 728]

I would go with

1) Partially, force of numbers.  Although, that might be because we are only seeing EQ, where most of them live.

2) Diversity of talent.  Pegasi fly & control weather (including lightning & tornadoes for combat), Unicorns have a wide variety of spells (though most aren't as versatile as Twilght but are more like Rarity), & Earth ponies have agriculture, to keep everyone fed & provide the economic surplus to allow non food producing activities (That is, AJ's farm allows Twilight to specialize in magic instead of having to spend her time trying to get enough to eat)

3) Unity of purpose.  Dragons could probably dominate, but just don't cooperate as well.  They get overpowered by force of numbers (point # 1)