Celestia, the ruler of Equestria, has announced her plan to solve the Earth's overpopulation and Equestria's under-population problem. Her idea is ponification.
Five years ago, census bureaus across the world had reach the consensus that the Earth's population had reached dangerously high levels. According the U.S. government, New York alone now has reached 80 million.
“It's clear something must done about this problem”, said President Elton, during a recent press conference, “If these numbers continue, we could experience mass death on a scale never seen before.”
Soon, Ivor O’Brien would make a world-shattering discovery. The physicist was experimenting with teleportation, with the idea of being able to instantly transport goods to needy people. However, the experiment instead ripped a hole into another dimension: Equestria. Ivor would serve as the first contact between humanity and the Equestrian ponies.
The Equestrians were facing problems of their own. Despite having a planet-wide empire, the population of Equestria barely reached the millions. This was because the ponies' gender ratio is 1 male to 5 females.
Celestia started to talk with world leaders. They proposed the idea of having humans move to Equestria. However, this proved to be problematic.
Ivor had started developing cancer. At first, people thought it was because of the radioactive materials he was working with. However, further test proved the magic of Equestria is toxic to humans. The human reacts to Equestrian magic much like it would to radiation. This makes it impossible for humans to send an extended period of time in Equestria without the risk of dying.
However, Celestia has proposed a solution: ponification. The basic idea is that humans that want to go to Equestria schedule an appointment, usually a week ahead, in case the person changes their mind, at their local Conversion Bureau. When their appointment comes around, they go to the Conversion Bureau and undergo a process that transforms them into a Equestrian ponies. Over the next few weeks, they are taught the basics, such as how to walk on four legs, use magic, and so on.
This solution has earned support from various nations and influential figures. President Elton has expressed his support of the idea numerous times. Equestrian ponies have also supported the idea.
“It is such a shame humanity must wallow in filthy, overcrowded cities … crowded together like sardines,” said Black Marble, powerful Equestrian aristocratic, “ Ponification allows these people to get a new start”.
Naturally, the extremeness of the solution has brought detractors. The European Union has been divided on the issue, with Germany being the most fiercely opposed to the practice. China has outright ban ponification.
“Ponification is murder,” said human-rights activist Richard Stone, “It is the destruction of human bodies to create pony copies.”
Some are concerned about the negative impact these conversions might have on Equestrian society.
“Ponification will lead to even worse assimilation,” said controversial Wonderbolts member Rapidfire “The ponies have already been losing the uniqueness of their culture. The Pegasus used to be a race of proud warriors. You can't see that today. If the humans come around in mass numbers, they will bring their customs and lifestyles along with them. The ponies will be forced to assimilate into the new majority.”
Despite the controversy, conversion bureaus are being set up across the world. It has yet to be seen what impact ponification will have on both worlds.