A brony is a grown-up fan of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

What started as a silly internet phenomenon grew into a global creative community known for its art, music, and shared enthusiasm for a surprisingly enjoyable cartoon.

Welcome to Bronydom

On October 10th, 2010, the first episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic aired. This new generation of My Little Pony was truly a game changer. Known for her work on Powerpuff Girls and Fosters Home For Imaginary Friends, Lauren Faust along with a team of talented showrunners successfully transformed the My Little Pony franchise from something primarily popular with young girls into something enjoyable by just about any fan of animation in general.

Nine seasons, a feature film, various spinoffs and specials, and over a decade later: bronies continue to thrive with a multitude of sub-communities spread across the internet. Even more pony content is always on the horizon with both fan-made media and brand-new generations of My Little Pony.

The origin of bronies [2010 - 2011]

Visit the brony timeline page for a detailed look at early bronydom!

Around the time Friendship is Magic was making its debut, discussions about modern children’s cartoons being little more than glorified toy commercials was a common topic in online spaces. The industry was seeing a drought in quality cartoons, with some predicting a resurgence thanks to this unassuming My Little Pony reboot. Thankfully, the creative team behind this new show was determined to produce something of genuine quality that hearkens back to the Saturday morning cartoons of the 1990s and early 2000s. Their efforts paid off, as Friendship is Magic quickly captured the attention of an audience far beyond its intended demographic.

Many users of 4Chan, an anonymous image board known for being the birthplace of various internet trends, latched onto the show during this time. Users began to excitedly post thread after thread of endless pony pictures. Some of it was for the sake of ironic humor, while some users found themselves genuinely enjoying the show and looking for other cartoon enthusiasts to discuss it with. At one point, posts about ponies were banned from the website due to the sheer amount of pony spam. A number of people rose up against the show expressing hatred toward those who even mention something pony related, likely because of fans' proclivity to excitedly share pony content in places where it was not wanted.

It's not a stretch to say it was the "anti-pony movement" which made bronies what they are today. The more something is opposed, the higher the supporters must rise up, and rise up they did. Bronies soon began to create their own websites. After seeing so much opposition on 4Chan, bronies moved on to create PonyChan, an image board just for My Little Pony related content. During this initial boom of pony-popularity countless blogs, image boards, and other websites were created along with the use of virtually every popular social media website on the internet. As the brony community grew and expanded into the rest of the internet, 4Chan created a brand new /mlp/ board just for ponies.

By this time ponies had already begun to take over the internet... and the world.

The pony takeover [2012-2015]

As with many memes spawned from 4Chan, ponies rapidly spread around the world, but this time was different. While plenty of memes gain popularity from a simple sharable image macro, ponies represented an actively-airing show where each weekly episode introduced new phrases, new characters, or other memorable moments. Fans found themselves drawn to the expressive nature of the characters, the lore-filled depth of the world they lived in, and of course the humorously ironic nature of a bunch of grown adults and teenagers enjoying a show originally intended for seven year-old girls. This was at a time where the idea of a grown adult watching children's cartoons intended for girls was incredibly challenging to outsiders and considered very counter-cultural. Gender norms were firmly entrenched, and anything even slightly abnormal was intolerable to the general public. This only contributed to the community's spread thanks to the curiosity of level-headed would-be fans.

The early My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic episodes were enjoyable for what they are, but as bronies became an inescapable phenomenon the creators of the show quickly joined in on the fun too. Staff interactions with the fandom became regular online and at events. References intended for the older fans made their way into the show itself. The quality of the show and the attention it received by early fans was already a powerful force, but it became evermore potent once the show started to recognize bronies.

After breaking free of 4Chan's containment, not even the internet itself could not contain the excitement and passion of the bronies. Fandom organizers created the first brony convention in 2011 with the first big convention to see thousands of attendees taking place the next year in 2012. This convention was aptly named "BronyCon" and as years went by their annual attendance grew from a couple hundred fans to over ten-thousand. Not only that, but dozens of other brony conventions unrelated to BronyCon also took place around the world. Ponies quickly spread across every continent and even to the international space station.

Many long-time fans remember this period of time as the height of bronydom, as it felt like everyone was taking part in the pony party in some way. Musicians created iconic remixes, popular YouTubers made references, people's profile pictures became ponies, and everywhere you looked on the internet there was a pony character to be found.

However, this "meme status" of the show was only the beginning as fans settled in for the long haul.

A tightly-knit community [2016 - 2018]

The explosive popularity of bronies was viewed by many as a fad; a silly meme which couldn't possibly persist. Even most bronies were surprised as the show continued to announce new seasons, spin-offs, and other official media. Comparisons could be made to other long-lasting communities such as Trekkies or Furries, but the brony community is truly unique because of its unbelievably passionate following and incredible amount of fan-made media all for a single cartoon. The colorful cast of ponies, both main characters and background ponies alike, were just that compelling.

Anything and everything can be ponified. The simple, unified design of ponies made it easy to ponify brands and cultural figures. Anyone could have a pony Original Character, or OC. Any piece of media can crossover and be combined with the world of Equestria. That, combined with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic quickly becoming one of the longest-running modern cartoons gave the community immense staying power. Even as the meme-status wore off, the news stopped reporting about how weird bronies were, and casual fans moved onto other things, dedicated bronies continued to produce creative works and discuss all things pony on a daily basis.

Hiatuses between seasons of the show were both despised for being arduous and celebrated as a time for the fandom's creativity to shine, however, the looming threat of an "eternal hiatus" always made fans uneasy. The show had to end eventually...

The end of an era & a worldwide pandemic [2019 - 2021]

In August of 2019 the emotional trailer for the final season of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic released on the very same day as the final BronyCon. In stark contrast to the show ending, this BronyCon event was the largest brony gathering ever with more than ten thousand attendees and $100,000 raised for charity. Soon after, the emotional final episode of Friendship is Magic aired in the US October 12th 2019 just two days after an impressive nine year anniversary.

Despite the challenges faced by bronydom at this time such as the final BronyCon and a worldwide pandemic cancelling most events for a year and a half, bronies continued to create content, share their passion, and celebrate the series just as they had since the beginning. Virtual pony events and meetups erupted online in greater numbers than previously seen due to the pandemic. Interactive experiences like PonyTown provided a place for bronies to meet and enjoy virtual concerts together. Convention organizers pivoted from in-person conventions to online panels and digital vendor halls. Since bronies were already predominantly internet-based, pony activity only continued to increase as more and more people found themselves quarantining at home. A whole new group of bronies, many who had previously never been to a pony convention, were experiencing a small slice of it for the first time. This led to even more excitement as physical pony cons planned their grand re-openings as pandemic restrictions began to lift. Everfree Northwest celebrated its 10 year anniversary during their 2022 event in the wake of BronyCon's conclusion. HarmonyCon as well as many other younger pony conventions see a steady rise in attendance.

The brony phenomenon may not be an internet-wide meme anymore, and the mainline show may have concluded, but that hasn't stopped bronies from passionately enjoying the show all the same. It also hasn't stopped Hasbro from introducing spin-offs and new generations of My Little Pony...

The hybrid renaissance [2022 - 2026]

With the release of My Little Pony: A New Generation in 2021, Hasbro introduced a fresh start for the franchise's fifth generation. The movie paved the way for a flood of new pony media the following year, including Netflix’s Make Your Mark series and Tell Your Tale shorts on YouTube. Hasbro finds itself in the perfect sweet-spot of nostalgic appeal as the age gap between fans is broader and more diverse than ever. This latest wave of official content introduced My Little Pony to a generation raised on streaming platforms, creating a unique entry point into the brony fandom which was already far ahead of the curve when it comes to internet-based fandom. As these new fans delve deeper, they often find themselves drawn into the rich history of Friendship is Magic and the more than a decade's worth of expansive brony fanworks. Fanworks which continue to be produced every day!

During this time, Hasbro loosens their grip on licensing and an explosion of pony merchandise takes the world by storm. Friendship is Magic trading cards take over China, Symbiote Studios is flooded with orders for pony plushies after a decade-long drought of official options, and collectibles catering to both nostalgia and new fans flood the market.

The brony community itself remains as vibrant as ever. Bronies excitedly discuss leaks and rumors as a mysterious "sixth generation" of My Little Pony approaches. Pony conventions compete to break BronyCon 2019's charity record with both the longtime Ponyville Ciderfest and the newcomer Mare Fair also reaching six figures at each of their charity auctions. The former's record largely being thanks to the mysterious appearance of boxes full of production scripts at their charity auction. Ten-year NDAs expire as people who worked on Friendship is Magic now freely share behind-the-scenes information much to fans' delight.

The future of bronydom remains an exciting one. New fans are frequently joining and discovering the huge catalog of fan-made media, new and old pony conventions thrive across the globe, and Hasbro always has some form of new official pony content on the horizon.

It's never too late to join the herd! /)

What's the show about anyway?

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is centered around six main characters known to the fans as the "Mane Six." Together they overcome challenges through the sheer power of magic and friendship, or through more conventional and relatable means. When they are not fighting monsters or going on epic adventures they live out their lives in a peaceful and quaint town called Ponyville. They all have jobs, homes, friends, and hobbies explored throughout the show. This balance of adventure and a friendly small-town feeling gives the show a whole lot of heart as well as action and adventure.

Stories told by Friendship is Magic can vary between season-long arcs, single episodes inspired by popular fiction, and original stories unique to Equestria. Whether the world is being taken over by an evil villain or we're treated to a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, ponies deliver a uniquely charming take on just about any tale. Or tail, if you will.

In addition to the main show there are also countless official spin-offs, not to mention the previous generations of My Little Pony dating back to the 80s. Bronies tend to be centered around Friendship is Magic, but there's a lot of other pony content out there too, including later generations!

What do Bronies do?

Bronies are known for their creative works. Art, music, animation, and fan fiction are just a few things bronies create based around their favorite characters or original characters which they create themselves. There is so much brony-created content that much of it actually rivals the show itself. There's fan-made episodes, high-quality animations, many crossovers, artisan crafts, a rich brony music scene, video games, and so much more.

Bronies often meet in-person at scheduled meetups and conventions. These meetups can range from a couple bronies watching an episode together to annual worldwide conventions that bring out the the best content creators and most enthusiastic fans by the thousands. Bronies also work together to support charities, raising millions of dollars through various campaigns.

What now?

The brony fandom is dynamic and expansive. Within the pony fandom there's a sub-community for anyone!

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic should be available on various platforms. You may even be able to find full episodes free on YouTube! If you're really dedicated, ask around for the best brony websites to watch the show. Keep in mind: to fully grasp the show you must see more than just one or two episodes. Any brony will tell you that some episodes are better than others.

Thanks for your interest in Bronydom!

FAQs

Bronies are still around?

What's the story behind this website?

But...why?!

How old are bronies?

I'm writing about bronies, how can I use this website as a citation?

Can a girl be a brony?

...Then why does Google/Oxford Languages/etc. say bronies are men?

Are bronies the same as furries?

What is G4, G5, G6, etc?

How do I become a brony?

Bronies are still around?

Bronydom was a meme which took over the internet around 2012 - 2016. It was impossible to avoid My Little Pony on the internet at that time, but just because the "meme era" has passed doesn't mean the community isn't very much a thing. We still have a presence on every online platform and have our own conventions every year. Pony fan art, videos, discussion, and more take place every single day.

What's the story behind this website?

I'm just a random individual who happens to be a brony. I noticed that a simple explanation for the brony fandom which could be linked to with an easy-to-remember URL was lacking, so I decided to put something together myself.

But...why?!

It's just a fun cartoon. There's really not much more to it. Sure, the brony fandom is kind of a fluke which required a perfect storm of events to occur for it to become what it is today, but when it all comes down to it we're just another fandom for just another show. I believe there's something truly special about bronydom but if you're simply not into cartoons, that's completely fair. It's not for everyone.

How old are bronies?

There is no definitive age to qualify as a brony, but generally any teen or adult who likes the show and engages with the community can be considered one.

I'm writing about bronies, how can I use this website as a citation?

Unless you're able to cite the URL or my username, I'm afraid I can't help you. I don't go by my real name online for a number of privacy reasons. Take a look at the articles below you may be able to use.

Can a girl be a brony?

Of course! The brony fandom might be known for being a fandom of adult males, and while they are probably the majority, the fandom is home to plenty of teen and adult female fans as well. Some female fans go by the name "pegasister" although most people prefer not to make a distinction between fans based on gender. The word "brony" has always been used for any grown-up fan!

...Then why does Google/Oxford Languages/etc. say bronies are men?

The idea of adult men watching a show for little girls spreads much faster in the mainstream media than the more nuanced truth. This has resulted in the misconception that you have to be a man to be a brony, but this is wildly inaccurate and unfair to the many female fans who are proud to call themselves bronies. Google previously used the definition from this very website, but have since switched to a less-accurate source.

Are bronies the same as furries?

This question inspires endless debate and is the perfect way to ragebait members of either community, so have fun with that! The simple answer is that some bronies consider themselves to be furries, and some furries are also bronies. There is certainly overlap, but there are also members of either community who don't identify with the other at all. The 2010s cartoon-focused origin of bronies differs massively from the zine and pre-internet origins of furries in the 1980s.

What is G4, G5, G6, etc?

My Little Pony is often categorized into generations. G1 generally refers to the earliest My Little Pony animations from the 80s. Generations 2 & 3 are most commonly associated with particular toylines and My Little Pony Tales. G4 marked the beginning of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, which generally appealed to a wider audience, provided the birth of bronies, and ran from 2010 to 2019 making it the longest-running generation. Later generations have some brony attention, but not quite as "explosively" as G4 did.

How do I become a brony?

If you like Friendship is Magic and enjoy brony content/communities, you're already a brony!