Sunsetverse: Hybrids · 7:33pm Dec 31st, 2014
Hybrids, a vissable result of the union between ponies of different tribes, are largely misunderstood by other species and their outsider perspective. Most believe that a hybrid is an inevitable result of an intertribal union, and as such their rarity is indicative of a lack of such relations occurring with any real frequency. This is grossly wrong, and based on several misconceptions.
First of all, inter tribal breeding usually results in a child of just one tribe. Usually it is the same type as the mother, but not always. Tribal lineage can also lay dormant for several generations, resulting in great grandchildren taking after the only unicorn in the family free for example, though this is even rarer than hybrids. And hybrids are rare, accounting for only 1:200 inter tribal births. The most common is called "earth shod", and it makes up 50% of the hybrid population. This is when earth pony ancestry is highly pronounced in a unicorn or pegasus, resulting in what is basically a mane-verse pony of those tribes. "Feathered" is a term for an earth pony or unicorn that is expressing their pegasus paranetage by having feathers and hollow bones. Feathered ponies can also walk on clouds, but they cannot fly as they lack wings. They make up about 30% of hybrids. 15% of hybrids are "clove", expressing their unicorn side via hooves and tail. Some clove also become quite tall, even when compared to their already tall unicorn relatives. The last 5% is a specific type of hybrid technically titled a "Pegasi-Unicorn" (ancient ponies were not clever with names), though they tend to just be called a pegacorn or a pseudo-Alicorn. This rare hybrid results in what is essentially a unicorn with wings, unlike a true Alicorn which has been described as looking like "an earth shod unicorn with wings".
When you consider the fact that inter tribal relationships are about 1:30 (it's rarity is just due to there being more physical appearance hurdles to get over than any social stigma), that would put the hybrid population at roughly 1:6000 ponies. It's entirely possible for ponies to go their whole lives without ever seeing a single hybrid.
To put that in perspective, Manehattan has a population of roughly 1.6 million ponies, not counting any other species that calls the metropolis home. If there was a perfect distribution of 1:6000 in that population of about 1,600,000, we wind up with a grand total of 266/267 hybrids, depending on rounding. And that is for a major pony city. To even hit 300 we'd probably have to throw in the surrounding towns and villages, and even then that might be a stretch.
There are some minor societal stereotypes involving hybrids, most of which are unfirtunatly patronizing. One is that, due to their mixed nature, they will never be as good at their own tribes magic as a non-hybrid would, even one from a mixed tribal family. Earth shod are considered to be dumber by many, even if they don't have such an opinion about earth ponies themselves. Feathered are thought of as flighty, and unfocused, leading to the slur "feather brain", which was not aimed at pegasi as many believe. Clove, due to a lack of unicorn horn and magic, often get viewed as "crippled unicorns" and are treated as such. Pegasi-unicorns are fortunate in that their nearness to Alicorns results in many looking up to them...often to unreasonable degrees, resulting in massive social pressure.
The town of Ponyville is odd in that, despite having a population of less than 2,000 ponies, it is home to three hybrids, one of which is an adult. The eldest hybrid is an earth shod pegasus by the name of Raindrops, Vice-Captain of the local Weather Patrol. The fact that her current boss is three years her younger smacks many others with the feelings that anti-hybrid bias was involved, but Raindrops herself admits that Rainbow Dash is a once in a lifetime talent. The towns other two hybrids are both foals, still attending primary schooling. One is a feathered unicorn by the name of Dinky Doo. The other is a Pegasus-unicorn by the name of Alula. Both are still too young for cutie marks at this point. Dinky Doo is also notable for her mother, Ditzy Doo, being one of the only two Twinkle Eyed ponies in Ponyville.
This is an interesting concept for discussion. I have always wondered what hybrids in MLP would be like, mainly due to Dinky. I had always though that Dinky has a pegasus like body with an unicorn horn.
You guys do know that pinkie and rainbow are distantly related by the pegasus surprise right? So they are counting of hybrids and would explain much about Pinkie's antics. How she is able to be lifted by party balloons for example which normally wouldn't work due to a earth ponies natural weight shows that she is as light as a pegasus in that respect. And rainbow does have some earth pony traits like her stamina and muscles which added to her light bones would explain her ability to move fast to create the rainboom. If I had to guess both are exactly half or quarter pegasus and earth ponies. We never saw rainbow's parents so her being half is possible and Pinkie's parents are both earth so she might be the quarter pegasus.
2691024 they aren't related. At all. Also, did you read the description? A hybrid is something different from mixed parentage.
2690992 Well in this AU that's a lot more true de t all the feathers.
I love your world building. Every time a blog like this comes out i can't help but read in awe and wonder. Please keep it up.
I'm curious what you mean by this part. I might have missed something in the story itself, but is there some noticeable difference between pegasi and unicorns here and those in the show canon?
2691277 AU Design Blog where I describe the tribal redesigns and why I did them.
Wait...Ditzy Doo is a Twinkle Eye like Masquerade?
Does that mean she doesn't have her adorable cross eyes?
Also, love the mental image of Dinky with a feathery coat.
2691118 I know. We apparently think similar about hybrids. Though, I have never though of names for them.
2691507 Ah, okay, thanks for the link. I missed that one, so it also goes to explain why Sweetie Drops's inter-tribal relationship is even more rare than her being in a same-sex one. With such stark physical differences, even with over a thousand years of coexistence, the three tribes almost come across as being different species entirely, despite the ability to produce fertile offspring with each other.
2691569 Mentioned by Masquerade in her premier. And those cross eyes aren't so cute when they make it difficult to fly properly.
2691726 Yep. And you still get mixups like getting your unicorn marefriend a hoof file, simply because there are so many small differences that they might not notice themselves until it's pointed out. And yeah, a lot of non-ponies really do think of the different tribes as being different species really.
Having enjoyed the Twin Students of the Sun, I have just started going through your blog for background. I love the thought going into your AU world building but was surprised when I got to the end of this one and the list of Ponyville hybrids. I would think that Bulk Bicep would be a noteworthy case of Earth Shod Pegasus. Or possibly earth pony with stunted wings.
Or does he live somewhere else in your AU?
2715911 No, he's a Pegasus.