The Races of Equestria
The Land of Equestria is populated by a variety of races both human and humanoid as well as a variety of intelligent animals such as the Magic Ponies, a subspecies of equine known for their magical abilities, Dragons, Griffins, Minotaurs and Diamond Dogs.
Equestrians
The dominant race of Equestria, they are a race of humans gifted with magical abilities depending on the lineage of an individual. These people are descendants of a confederacy of 3 tribes that migrated from a land to the east in order to escape an unnatural blizzard; the name of their original homeland has long since been lost to history. Before the blizzard the 3 tribes were on not-too-friendly terms with each other, but after the migration to their new home they put their differences aside and lived together in relative peace and harmony. The new nation was given the name Equestria after the abundance of wild horses and the tribes own horse culture.
Due to their strong cultural affinity for horses, especially a race of magical intelligent equine simply called Ponies which consists of Unicorns, Earth Ponies , Pegasi and Alicorns, the Equestrians have named many of their towns and cities with equestrian terms, ex: Canterlot, Manehatten. The peoples of Equestria interestingly enough are also divided into 4 different ethnic with each group possessing similar magical qualities as the Ponies based on what tribe they were descended from.
Unicorn Tribe( Unicorn Kingdom): Commonly referred to as Elves. The people of this tribe are known for their exceptional skill with magic, being able to actively use magic in a series of complex spells and incantations unlike the other tribes, with the exception of the Alicorn Tribe. They're distinguished by their pointed ears and stand around 5 to 5'6 ft. tall with a slim build. Skin colors among these people come in a variety of colors though mostly light shades of blue, purple, pink, gray, yellow and green and normal skin tones are also common. Magical abilities vary from person to person depending on their special talents. Magic is fueled by the Unicorn's imagination. The more they're able to visualize their spell, the higher the chances of the spell being successful. The lack of focus will likely cause the spell to backfire.
Historically the Elves revered the Unicorn Pony as a symbol of wisdom, nobility, magic and knowledge. Not surprisingly the Unicorn Kingdom had excelled greatly in the advancements of science, literature, magic and philosophy and had even established many universities, observatories, libraries and various schools throughout Equestria.
Earth Pony Tribe(Earth Pony Republic): Commonly called Menn. The most numerous of the three tribes making up roughly 50% of the Equestrian population. For the most part they're ordinary humans except for their great strength and connection with the earth and nature making them excellent farmers and herdsmen. They stand around 5,6 ft. tall to 6 or 6,6 ft. tall with a fairly muscular build. Skin tones are less varied among this group with normal skin colors being the most dominant, commonly olive or tan. Though shades of red, yellow, green, orange, gray, brown and blue have been observed.
The Earth Ponies were revered by the Menn as symbols of the harvest, hard work, strength, industry and independence. So naturally the Menn and Earth Ponies had a kinship with each other due to their innate connection to the earth. Because of this the Menn naturally excelled in agriculture and industry and had even helped establish Equestria's representative form of government, despite the fact that Equestria itself is ruled by 2 queens making the country a diarchy by definition.
Pegasus Tribe(Pegasus Empire):Often called Angels. They're the second most numerous of the three tribes making up about 30% of the population. These people are blessed with the gift of flight and weather manipulation, including the ability to walk on clouds. Pegasus ponies can put away and bring out their wings at will whenever appropriate. The wings grants wingpower, which amplify the body's physical capabilities. Like exercise, they gain more wingpower the more they use their wings. In physical appearance they're the same as the Menn only they have a more slim build and have patches of feathers on their backs where their shoulder blades are. They stand around 5 to 5,8 ft. tall with an athletic to slim build. Skin colors tend to be in light shades of blue, yellow, purple, grey and pink. They can make their wings appear anywhere on their body, but the most common places to place them is behind their backs and the sides of their feet. If any damage is inflicted on the wings, it will also affect the user's body. The injury depends on the magnitude of the trauma and where the wings are placed. For example, a broken wing placed on by the feet would cause a direct injury on the foot and leg. But like the body, it will heal over time as long it is not damaged beyond repair. There's also a subgroup of the Pegasi called Nocturnes, who have cat-like eyes and have leathery bat-like wings and dark skin in contrast to the feathery bird wings of a normal Pegasus.
Due to their more agressive and predatory demeanor than their earth-bound kin Pegasus Ponies were revered by Angels as symbols of power, mastery over nature and the skies, freedom, loyalty and health. Due to their history as a warrior nation the Angels contributed greatly to Equestria's military structure and athletic programs as well as weather management. Their military contributions can be seen in the design of the Canterlot Royal Guard uniforms, which were based on those worn by the old Pegasus Legionaries, and in Equestria's militia structure, which consists of every able-bodied citizen who have been trained in arms since childhood, whom were used mostly for insuring domestic tranquility, law enforcement and homeland defense. The Equestrian Games were also an invention of the Pegasus Empire not only as a pass-time but to keep it's citizens in shape for military service. It serves much the same function today.
Alicorns:Without a doubt the rarest of the Equestrian ethnic groups. In fact Celestia and Luna are the only known surviving Alicorns. They beings possessed the attributes of all the 3 Equestrian ethnic groups: the ability to use magic, a connection to nature and great strength and the power of flight. However these attributes were greatly amplified in Alicorns. They tend to be unusually tall, standing from 6 to 7 ft. and according to some historical accounts could almost reach 9 ft. in height. Celestia herself is 6, 8ft. tall with Luna being 6, 5ft. Like the Unicorns they had pointed ears though longer than those of the average Unicorn. And like the Pegasi they could materialize their wings when they needed them and had a greater wingspan and wing size than the average Pegasus. Sking tones tend to be light among these people. Celestia has a very pale pink skins though she's slightly suntanned and Luna's skin is light azure. Other common traits amongst the Alicorns is that their hair is constantly moving as though a nonexistent breeze were always blowing through it and they seam to be immortal as Luna and Celestia are both over 1,000 yrs. old.
Nothing is really known about the ancient Alicorn civilization as it has been extinct since long before even the era of the three tribes of Equestria. However some surviving Alicorn artifacts seem to suggest that the Alicorns were a very advanced society, rivaling that of the Unicorn tribe by a considerable amount. And is rumored that they were the ancestors of the peoples of Equestria. Evidence also suggests that the Alicorns were viewed as gods by the 3 tribes and beyond due to their immense powers and immortality; believing that they had the power to control the celestial bodies, the weathers, the earth, the sea, the air and the seasons. As for how and why the Alicorn civilization became with the queens Celestia and Luna being the only known surviving Alicorns. However there are some hints that suggest it came to a not-so-pleasant end, such as the queens reluctance to talk about it and their decision to end Alicorn worship once they became rulers of Equestria over 1,000 yrs. ago. Even going so far as to outlaw the practice altogether. Historians have theorized that the Alicorns had wiped themselves out through a civil war brought about possibly by the deification they recieved from their subjects and followers. Others have speculated that their end was brought about through inbreeding. And others speculate that it was moral depravity that brought about the end to the Alicorns. And still others say that it's a combination of all three.
The Buffalo Tribes
A race of humans that inhabit the plains and deserts to the south of Equestria. Much like Equestria's fondness for horses, the Buffalo Tribes have a fondness for the Bison native to the area, using them as transportation, labor, food, clothing, shelter and utilities. The tribesmen themselves are large and stocky with a muscular physique and having reddish-brown, tan, olive, dark grey or black skin and black or brown hair. They tend to stand around 5 to 5'8 ft tall. Like the Menn they possess great physical strength and a close connection to nature. And like the Elves that have the ability to do some magic though it's mostly done through rituals.
Unlike their Equestrian neighbors to the north, the Buffalo live a largely primitive tribal lifestyle with little in the way of an organized government structure or technology and no written language to speak of. The Buffalo are divided into 3 groups: the Plains Buffalo who live as nomads and wandering herders and hunters on the plains and deserts near Appleloosa, the Mountain Buffalo that live in adobe-type cliff dwelling in the mountains further south and Water Buffalo who live along the rivers and occasional wetlands where they raise crops in the fertile soil.
Diamond Dogs
A race of bipedal canines-like creatures that spend most of their time digging underground looking for precious stones. In appearance the males are large hulking creatures with a build similar to that of a gorilla or ape with long muscular arms and short legs, causing them to walk on all fours almost all the time, while the bitches have a more human-like build with slightly shorter arms and slightly longer legs. The average Diamond Dog stands around 6 to 8 ft. tall. Though alpha-dogs have been known to exceed that. Their bodies are covered in fur, ranging from brown to grey to black. And their faces resemble those of bulldogs with pointed ears, drooping jowls, large sunken in nose, pronounced chin, muzzle, eyebrows and canines and large eyes that help them to see in the dark. They have acute senses of hearing, sight and smell. But due to living underground they despise sunlight, only venturing to the surface at night, when it's cloudy or when absolutely necessary. They're also vulnerable to loud noises and exceptionally strong odors.
Everywhere they're considered a threat or at the least a nuisance. They're notorious for their greed, often raiding and plundering small settlements, attacking caravans and kidnapping people to use as slave labor in their mines. They possess little in the way of culture as they are brutish and simple-minded creatures with no known written language, possess only crude technology and limited understanding of applied science, crude artwork and no formal system of government. Diamond Dog society was divided into many different subterranean tribes, or packs as they call themselves, each ruled by an Alpha Dog who is the strongest dog in the pack. Packs can number anywhere from a few hundred to well over ten thousand and they would spend most of their time raiding and attacking rival packs in order to obtain precious stones, metal, food and slaves for their own mines.
Changelings
A race of shape-shifting vampire-like creatures that reside in the badlands south of Equestria. In the Buffalo Tribes they're referred to as 'Skin-walkers' and in other cultures they're commonly called Succubi(female) and Incubi(male). In appearance they're distinctly human-like with a thin build yet they're deceptively strong with pale gray skin covered in black chitonous scales, blue compound eyes, thin wiry hair, long pointed misshapen ears, strange holes in their clawed hands and feet, a row of sharp teeth with two pairs of fangs and insectoid wings. As stated before the Changelings are shape-shifting vampires who get their sustanence through drinking blood and eating flesh. They also possess the ability to feed on a persons life-force and their emotions, mainly love. They do this by using their shape shifting abilities to turn into a copy of a loved one and procede to feed on their love, magic and life-force through intimate physical contact like hugs, kisses and even sexual intercourse. Once the victim has been drained of their love, magic and most of their life-force they will then feed on their blood and flesh. This practice has caused many to view Changelings as a race of sexual deviants. Because they possess magic, great strength and ability to fly some have speculated that they have some relations to Alicorns, some have even postulated that were once Alicorns but were transformed into monstrous Changelings as punishment for some unknown crime.
Although they look human they think and behave like insects, more specifically ants, wasps or bees. Though sapient they possess little independent thought or sense of identity. It's believed that they communicate with each other over long distances through some kind of hive-mind. Other things that set them apart from humans is that they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live offspring and the existence of sexless drones that are neither male or female, who function as workers within the hive. Much like the ancient Unicorn Kingdom Changling society operated on a kind of caste system. Though the Changeling caste system is based more on biology and instinct, similar to colonial insects, rather than politics as each individual within the hive instinctively fills in a particular niche based which part of the caste system they were born into. The hive itself is ruled by a queen who, like the Alicorns, are immortal and they've been known to reign over a hive for well over a century, provided they aren't killed by one of their daughters first. Queens will lay a cluster of two-dozen eggs every century, each one a potential queen if they survive to adult-hood. If they do survive into adulthood a future queen is selected if she survives a series of battles to the death with her siblings. And if she survives manages to kill all of her sisters her last opponent will be her own mother. If she survives, she'll be the hives next queen. And this practice isn't restricted to royalty as the Changelings practice a very brutal form of eugenics as they'll kill and eat those in the hive that are too weak to contribute to the hive, including unhatched eggs. And unlike the humans they prey upon, Changeling don't create family bonds and even though they feed on positive emotions like love they themselves aren't capable of expressing true love or affection even towards their own offspring.