Now that I have done writing major stories I figured I would post up a FAQ thread that answers issues involving the night ponies in the Pandemic Universe. This gives clarification on a number of things and also reveals some things that aren't made clear or covered in any story. This is primarily for other creators in the universe to see the "universe bible" on how night ponies work, but it is also for clearing up general misconceptions.

Question 1: Why is there a gender imbalance?

Answer 1: The gender imbalance is a result of Sunset Shimmer not understanding humans. Further it is actually a regional issue, with some cultures experiencing a major gender imbalance while others actually have it balanced.

The misunderstanding on Sunset Shimmer's part is that she believed that human females on average lacked the needed aggression and personality traits that she ascribed to night ponies. This is based on her seeing largely patriarchal societies and male dominated militaries. While she put equal weight on fear for both males and females, she diliberately boosted the chances of it being a female to transform into a night pony with the expectation that it would make more of a gender balance. What ended up happening was it completely threw the gender balance in favor of females due to her mistake.

Question 2: Can all night ponies dreamwalk?

Answer 2: the ability is not universal among night ponies, with a very small minority that lack the ability. Perhaps 1-2% of the night pony population cannot dreamwalk. There are also a very small number of night ponies who have specifically requested that the Dreamwardens remove their ability to dreamwalk that had the ability, though most that were in this group ultimately rehumanized.

Question 3: What abilities other than dreamwalking do night ponies possess?

Answer 3: Night ponies can see in the dark, though their eyes are much more sensitive to daylight than other ponies. Specifically, they are sensitive to UV lights and lights above a certain luminescence.

Night ponies are more adept at using their wings for griping or manipulating objects than pegasi can with their wings, though not as well as human hands. This extra grip has a small magical component to it and allows them to do things like climb and latch onto the sides of buildings for extended periods. They are weaker flyers than pegasi; unable to reach the same heights or speeds in the air, and they have no weather magic or cloudwalking ability.

Night ponies have a larger percentage of their population that comes into using mind magic naturally; roughly 3-4% of night ponies can use some mind magic. Mind magic naturally developing in other tribes is rarer, at less than 1%.

In terms of physical strength night ponies are comparable to pegasi on average.

Average muscle strength on average from strongest to weakest: Earth Ponies--Crystal Ponies--Humans--Pegasi--Night Ponies--Unicorns. Note this is just averages and there is individual variance.

Question 4: What is the night pony role among the tribes with the opening up of the dream realm to other tribes and humans?

Answer 4: Night ponies are still the most adept at using the dream realm, and can accomplish far more in that realm than dreamwalking humans or ponies of other tribes. As such they are still valuable for helping others with their dreams. The night ponies are also the tribe most inclined to military or police service, as well as the tribe that can do jobs overnight (many jobs are preferable to be done overnight). They are also a tribe that has the least trouble with cramped spaces, and combined with their climbing ability this makes them ideal for working in jobs that might put someone in tight or difficult to reach locations.

Question 5: When do night ponies begin developing their ability to dreamwalk?

Answer 5: The ability could begin manifesting anywhere between 9 years old and 13 years old on average. Again, there is some variance where some outside percentages may develop it earlier or later--or in some cases, not at all. It is exceedingly common for the ability to manifest during foal surges, before vanishing again once the surging ends.

Question 6: Are you saying women are more fearful than men with the gender imbalance?

Answer 6: No, the fear ratio is roughly the same. What caused the gender imbalance was Sunset Shimmer's cultural misconception being applied to humans as a whole. See the above question addressing this.

Question 7: Why are the night pony mares at each other's throats?

Answer 7: Supply and demand, combined with high aggressiveness and protectiveness. There are simply not enough night pony males for night pony females in many regions, and night pony mares are not inclined to share due to their aggressive nature and desire to "protect what's theirs". They have a strong desire to build families (There is a slightly heightened compulsion in all the tribes to do this), and that requires finding mates. Night ponies' nocturnal and far more aggressive nature tends to make romantic relationships with ponies of other tribes difficult. Some succeed at forming romantic relationships outside their tribe, but most consider this a lost cause.

Many decide that trying to find a male mate is a lost cause in itself or simply wish to remove themselves from the infighting, so they have Yinyu forcibly change their sexuality to have them lose interest in male mates. Most have her change this to them having them only have interest in other females, but others who take Yinyu's Blessing choose to keep the possibility of a male mate open by making them bisexual, while some others ask that all sexual desire be removed. In some cultures the opposite is requested where a mare that realizes she is attracted to her own gender may request that changed if the case is made it is detrimental to her in her circumstances (cultures where being homosexual is criminalized).

Question 8: How are night pony fillies and colts kept out of trouble when they begin dreamwalking on their own?

Answer 8: If they have night pony parents those parents will often spend time checking in on them. In addition, the Dreamwardens tend to block any activities they view as inappropriate. By three years after after ETS the Dreamwardens are effectively able to head off any mischief in the dream realm almost immediately.

If you have any other questions that need addressing please reply to this post and I will see that they get answers.

Are there any talks about trying to see if any Equestrian Night Pony males are willing to come over to help with the gender imbalance?

7051852
That is an interesting idea. Something to forward on to the authors still writing as a suggestion, since we have opened the door for Equestrians permanently moving to Earth. It could even be Equestrian ponies in general since Equestrians don't have as strict a circadian rhythm.

7051852
Unfortunately the list of Equestrians who are in relationships with earthlings begins and ends with Crescent Shadow at the moment.

But perhaps something can be worked in that isn't some seedy thing advertising on equestria that "hot night pony mares eager for love, volunteer for work on earth today!"

7052199
I have a rough idea for something that could better work it in in a future New Horizons entry, still a long ways out and things could change, but I think I’ve left enough in to build off of it with.

7052199
Equestrians get the internet and email going. Open up email and get a hundred spam email offers for"mail order night pony brides" the first mass bit of spam in Equestria.