Equestria is a pocket universe created by a filly Celestia when she took survivors of war amongst gods, her unborn sister and ran the heck away aboard a spelljammer style flying sail ship.
Somewhat hastily made Equestria has it quirks and foibles. The most annoying of which is the lack of certain useful elements such as copper or coal deposits.
It's time to withdraw from isolation and establish trade and diplomatic relations with the multi-verse. And Celestia knows just the six mares to do it.
First Stop? The Aber-Toril system.
(My writing pace is glacial but pokes and comments do remind me I should be writing this and thus hasten update speed to slow.)