Hasbro initially hired Faust to create a pitch bible for the show, allowing her to get additional help with conceptualization. Faust said she was "extremely skeptical" about taking the job at first because she had always found shows based on girls' toys to be boring and unrelatable. She was disappointed that what she thought of the toys at the time was nothing like the animated shows, in which the characters, according to her, "had endless tea parties, giggled over nothing and defeated villains by either sharing with them or crying". With the chance to work on My Little Pony, one of her favorite childhood toys, she hoped to prove that "cartoons for girls don't have to be a puddle of smooshy, cutesy-wootsy, goody-two-shoeness". To do this, she incorporated many elements into the show that subverted stereotypes of girls, such as diverse personalities, character flaws and personality disorders, the message that friends can be different and can get into arguments but still be friends, and the idea that girls should not be limited by what others say they can or can not do. Elements of the characters' personalities and the show's settings were based on her own childhood imagination of the ponies' adventures, in part inspired by the animated shows that her brothers would watch while growing up, such as Transformers and G.I. Joe. Faust still aimed for the characters to be "relatable" characters, using stereotypical "icons of girliness" to broaden the appeal of the characters for the young female audience.
Main characters
Mane 6
The main cast, know colloquially as the Mane 6. Left to right: Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Twilight Sparkle.
Applejack (Ashleigh Ball) - Applejack is a protagonist of Friendship Is Magic. Based on Applejack from G1 of My Little Pony, she is an orangeearth pony. She first appears in "Friendship Is Magic" as an honest farmer. She represents the Element of Honesty.
Rainbow Dash (Ashleigh Ball) - Rainbow Dash is a protagonist of Friendship Is Magic. Based on Firefly from G1 of My Little Pony, she is a light bluepegasus. She first appears in "Friendship Is Magic" as a loyal friend and talented flyer. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
Pinkie Pie (Andrea Libman) - Pinkie Pie is a protagonist of Friendship Is Magic. Based on Surprise from G1 and Pinkie Pie from G3 of My Little Pony, she is a pink earth pony. She first appears in "Friendship Is Magic" as an energeticpartyplanner who loves a good laugh. She represents the Element of Laughter.
Fluttershy (Andrea Libman) - Fluttershy is a protagonist of Friendship Is Magic. Based on Posey from G1 of My Little Pony, she is a yellow pegasus. She first appears in "Friendship Is Magic" as a kind and shycaretaker of animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
Rarity (Tabitha St. Germain) - Rarity is a protagonist of Friendship Is Magic. Based on Glory and Sparkler from G1 of My Little Pony, she is a white unicorn. She first appears in "Friendship Is Magic" as a generous fashion designer. She represents the Element of Generosity.
Spike (Cathy Weseluck) - Spike is a protagonist of Friendship Is Magic. Based on Spike from G1 and G3 of My Little Pony, he is a purple babydragon. He first appears in "Friendship Is Magic" as the assistant of Twilight Sparkle who has a crush on Rarity.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders (CMCs), sometimes shortened as just the Crusaders, are a secret society of several young ponies from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Their original goal was to obtain their cutie marks, although they later dedicated themselves to helping others find or understand their cutie marks. The group was originally founded by Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle in "Call of the Cutie", with Babs Seed joining the group in "One Bad Apple". A griffon named Gabby joined the group as an honrary member in "The Fault in Our Cutie Marks". In My Little Pony: Equestria Girls, human equivalents of Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle appear as friends and simply call themselves "Crusaders".
Apple Bloom (Michelle Creber) - Apple Bloom is a recurring character in Friendship Is Magic, the younger sister of Applejack, and a founding member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Based on Ember from G1, she is a yellow earth pony. She first appears in "Bridle Gossip" as Applejack's reasonable younger sister who doesn't understand why the other characters are expressing racism against Zecora. Her cutie mark, which she gains in "Crusaders of the Lost Mark", is a tricolorshield with an apple.
Scootaloo (Madeleine Peters) - Scootaloo is a recurring character in Friendship Is Magic, an admirer of Rainbow Dash, and a founding member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Based on Scootaloo from G3, she is an orange pegasus. She first appears in "Call of the Cutie" as a flightless pegasus and a friend of Sweetie Belle. Her cutie mark, which she gains in "Crusaders of the Lost Mark", is a tricolor shield with a lightning bolt.
Sweetie Belle (Claire Corlett) - Sweetie Belle is a recurring character in Friendship Is Magic, the younger sister of Rarity, and a founding member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Based on Sweetie Belle from G3, she is a white unicorn. She first appears in "Call of the Cutie" as a friend of Scootaloo. Her cutie mark, which she gains in "Crusaders of the Lost Mark", is a tricolor shield with a music note.
Babs Seed (Brynna Drummond) - Babs Seed is a supporting character in Friendship Is Magic, the cousin of Apple Bloom, and a former member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She is an orange earth pony. She first appears in "One Bad Apple" as a bully from Manehattan who is later redeemed. Her cutie mark, which she gains in "Bloom & Gloom", is a pair of scissors.
Gabby (Erin Mathews) - Gabby is a supporting character in Friendship Is Magic and an honorary member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She is a gray griffon. She first appears in "The Fault in Our Cutie Marks" as a friendly griffon who wants to become the first non-pony to earn a cutie mark. Her wood carved cutie mark, which she is given by the Cutie Mark Crusaders in "The Fault in Our Cutie Marks", is a tricolor shield with a trophy.
Princess Celestia (Nicole Oliver) - Princess Celestia is a recurring character in Friendship Is Magic, the Princess of the Sun, and the ruler of Equestria. Based on Majesty from G1, she is a white alicorn. She first appears in "Friendship Is Magic" as the ruler of Equestria, the mentor of Twilight Sparkle, and the older sister of Princess Luna. She is later revealed to be the aunt of Prince Blueblood and Princess Cadance. Her cutie mark is a stylized Sun.
Princess Luna (Tabitha St. Germain) - Princess Luna is a recurring character in Friendship Is Magic, the Princess of the Moon, and the co-ruler of Equestria. She is a dark blue alicorn. She first appears in "Friendship Is Magic" as younger sister of Princess Celestia and the antagonisticNightmare Moon until her redemption by the Elements of Harmony. Her cutie mark is a crescent Moon.
Prince Blueblood (Vincent Tong) - Prince Blueblood is a supporting character in Friendship Is Magic and the nephew of Princess Celestia. He is a white unicorn. He first appears in "The Ticket Master" as part of Rarity's fantasy and has his first speaking role in "The Best Night Ever". His cutie mark is a compass rose.
Shining Armor (Andrew Francis) - Shining Armor is a recurring character in Friendship Is Magic, the Captain of the Royal Guard, and the royal consort of the Crystal Empire. He is a white unicorn. He first appears in "A Canterlot Wedding" as the older brother of Twilight Sparkle and the groom of Princess Cadance. His cutie mark is a shield with six-pointed star inside of it and three small stars above it.
Princess Cadance (Britt McKillip) - Princess Cadance is a recurring character in Friendship Is Magic and the Crystal Princess. She is a pink alicorn. She first appears in "A Canterlot Wedding" as the bride of Shining Armor and the Princess of Love. Her cutie mark is a crystalheart.
Prince Rutherford (Garry Chalk) - Prince Rutherford is a supporting character in Friendship Is Magic and the rurler of Yakyakistan. He is a brown yak. He first appears in "Party Pooped".
Flurry Heart (Tabitha St. Germain) - Flurry Heart is a supporting character in Friendship Is Magic and the babydaughter of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance. She is a pink alicorn. She first appears in "The Crystalling" as the unintentional antagonist.
Ember (Ali Milner) - Ember is a supporting character in Friendship Is Magic and the ruler of the Dragon Lands. She is a light blue dragon. She first appears in "Gauntlet of Fire" as a friendly dragon who works with Spike.
Thorax (Kyle Rideout) - Thorax is a supporting character in Friendship Is Magic and the ruler of the Changeling Kingdom. He is a green changeling. He first appears in "The Times They Are A Changeling" as a friendly changeling who wants to share love instead of stealing it.
Princess Skystar (Kristin Chenoweth) - Princess Skystar is a minor character in Friendship Is Magic and the heir to the throne in Seaquestria. She first appears as a supporting character in My Little Pony: The Movie and only appears as a background character in the show.
Queen Novo (Uzo Aduba) - Queen Novo is a minor character in Friendship Is Magic and the ruler of Seaquestria. She first appears as a supporting character in My Little Pony: The Movie and only appears as a background character in the show.
Other secondary characters
Big McIntosh - Applejack's brilliant amaranth older brother with moderate sap green eyes, a brilliant orange mane, and light yellowish gray hooves.
Granny Smith - Applejack's light lime green grandmother with light brilliant orange eyes and a light gray mane.
Cheerilee - A moderate cerise earth pony with grayish harlequin eyes and a pale light grayish rose mane with light ceriseish gray stripes.
Zecora - A light heliotropeish gray and dark bluish gray striped zebra with strong cyan eyes, a light gray and dark persian bluish gray mane, indigoish black hooves, and brilliant amber jewelry.
Maud Pie - Pinkie Pie's persian bluish gray older sister with light turquoise eyes, a grayish blue violet mane, and grayish blue violet eyeshadow.
Ember - A brilliant opal dragon with a pale turquoise underbelly, a wing membrane gradient of moderate indigo to light cobalt blue, brilliant red eyes, moderate phthalo blue spikes, and light apple greenish gray horns.
Thorax - A light lime green changeling with a brilliant gamboge chest, moderate rose eyes, a dark azure carapace with a moderate emerald green underside, light brilliant orange mandibles, moderate blue violet wings with dark fuchsia elytra, very light turquoise magic aura, and brilliant green magic aura (Triple Threat).
Discord - A draconequus with an amber yellowish gray head, a dark grayish reddish brown body, a moderate amaranth tail with a white tip, light brilliant yellow eyes with brilliant crimson pupils, a very dark gray mane, white eyebrows, and light yellow magic aura.
Queen Chrysalis - A very dark gray changeling with moderate harlequin eyes with dark grayish opal pupils, a dark cerulean mane, a carapace with a gradient from dark arctic blue to moderate green, very deep opal eyeshadow, and brilliant green magic aura.
Starlight Glimmer - A pale light grayish heliotrope unicorn with moderate persian blue eyes, a moderate purple mane with lighter purple and pale light grayish aquamarine highlights, and light turquoise magic aura.
Trixie - A brilliant azure unicorn with dark grayish violet eyes, a pale cornflower blue mane with very pale cerulean stripes, and pale light grayish magenta magic aura.
Sunburst - A brilliant gamboge unicorn with light apple greenish gray spots, eyes with a gradient of dark cornflower blue to moderate cyan, a vivid and brilliant vermilion mane, and light yellow magic aura.
Flim - A pale light grayish olive unicorn with moderate pistachio eyes, a moderate red mane with white stripes, and moderate green magic aura.
Flam - Flim's pale light grayish olive twin brother with moderate pistachio eyes, a moderate red mane with white stripes, and moderate green magic aura.
Gilda - A moderate gamboge griffon with light brilliant amber eyes, a white head with pale light grayish heliotrope edges, moderate gamboge wings, and brilliant gold talons.
Sugar Belle - Applejack's pale cerise unicorn sister-in-law with moderate cerise eyes, a moderate magenta mane, strong cyan magic aura (The Cutie Map Part 1, The Cutie Map Part 2, Hard To Say Anything, and The Big Mac Question), and moderate cerise magic aura (The Break Up Break Down).
Party Favor - A light cyanish gray unicorn with light cobalt blue eyes, a moderate azure and grayish blue mane, and pale light grayish rose magic aura.
Double Diamond - A white earth pony with light cobalt blue eyes and a light cyanish gray and white mane.
Night Glider - A moderate azure pegasus with brilliant cerulean eyes and a white and light phthalo bluish gray mane.
Lord Tirek - A dark grayish scarlet centaur with black eyes with light brilliant yellow pupils, an indigoish gray mane, a dark sapphire bluish gray upper body, a dark cobalt bluish gray lower body, dark azureish gray horns, light lime greenish gray hooves with amberish gray clefts, and vivid vermilion magic aura with black sparks. His dark grayish scarlet skin changes to moderate amaranth, his mane indigoish gray mane changes to light indigoish gray, his dark sapphire bluish gray upper body changes to black, his dark cobalt bluish gray lower body changes to dark bluish phthalo gray, and his dark azureish gray horns change to dark phthalo bluish gray. His moderate amaranth skin changes to moderate raspberry, his light indigoish gray mane changes to light phthalo bluish gray, his black upper body stays, his dark bluish phthalo gray lower body changes to azureish gray, and his dark phthalo bluish gray horns change to dark sapphire bluish gray.
Mr. Cake - A light brilliant amber earth pony with a light brilliant orange freckle-like pattern, moderate pistachio eyes, and a light brilliant orange mane.
Mrs. Cake - Mr. Cake's very light cerulean wife with brilliant rose eyes and a light crimson mane with pale light grayish crimson stripes.
Pound Cake - Mr. Cake's light goldish gray pegasus son with dark grayish tangelo eyes and a brown mane.
Pumpkin Cake - Mr. Cake's light yellow unicorn daughter with brilliant azure eyes, a light brilliant orange mane, and pale light grayish cerulean magic aura.
Mayor Mare - A pale light grayish amber earth pony with moderate phthalo blue eyes and a light cornflower bluish gray mane with a lighter streak.
Filthy Rich - Diamond Tiara's grayish amber father with light azure eyes and a dark gray mane with lighter highlights.
Diamond Tiara - A pale magenta earth pony with brilliant cornflower blue eyes and a pale light grayish violet mane with white streaks.
Silver Spoon - A cornflower bluish gray earth pony with moderate violet eyes, a mane in two shades of light azureish gray, and pale opal accessories.
Snips - A grayish opal unicorn with black eyes, a moderate orange mane, light turquoisish gray magic aura (The Cart Before the Ponies), and brilliant gold magic aura (Common Ground).
Snails - A brilliant amber unicorn with black eyes, a moderate turquoise mane, light brilliant yellow magic aura (Boast Busters), and grayish purple magic aura (Buckball Season).
Twist - A light amberish gray earth pony with light fuchsia eyes, a light brilliant scarlet mane, and brilliant blue violet glasses.
Pipsqueak - A white earth pony with grayish brown spots, very deep reddish brown eyes, and a dark tangelo mane with lighter streaks.
Featherweight - A light yellowish gray pegasus with moderate gamboge eyes and a moderate orange mane with a lighter streak.
Sandbar - A pale light grayish spring bud earth pony with light sea green eyes and a light cyan and moderate opal mane.
Gallus - A brilliant cerulean griffon with a pale light grayish amber chest, pale light grayish amber eyebrows, moderate azure eyes, head feathers in a gradient of brilliant cerulean to grayish spring bud to brilliant amber, moderate cerulean wings, moderate cerulean tailfeathers, brilliant amber talons, and a brilliant amber beak.
Yona - A yak with a grayish amber undercoat, a grayish vermilion overcoat, a light brownish gray muzzle, moderate olive eyes, a moderate scarlet mane, dark spring greenish and dark turquoisish gray horns, and pink bows.
Smolder - A brilliant gamboge dragon with a light gold underbelly, light gold wing membrane, light gold ear fonds, moderate cyan eyes, and moderate orchid spikes.
Ocellus - A pale light grayish arctic blue changeling with a pale light grayish arctic blue carapace, moderate cyan eyes, a light amaranth neck fin, and light amaranth wings with brilliant amaranth elytra.
Silverstream - A light magentaish gray hippogriff with a pale light grayish orchid beak, pale light grayish orchid claws, moderate blue violet eyes, and a light cornflower blue and light cornflower bluish gray mane.
Cozy Glow - A pinkish gray pegasus with moderate scarlet eyes and a pale light grayish arctic blue and light arctic bluish gray mane.
Braeburn - Applejack's light gold cousin with brilliant pistachio eyes and a brilliant gamboge mane with brilliant amber highlights.
Lotus Blossom - A light cerulean earth pony with moderate azure eyes, a pale rose mane, and light cornflower bluish gray eyeshadow.
Aloe - A pale rose earth pony with moderate azure eyes, a light cerulean mane, and light cornflower bluish gray eyeshadow.
Cranky Doodle - A grayish gamboge donkey with a pale light grayish gold muzzle and pale light grayish arctic blue eyes.
Matilda - Cranky Doodle's grayish amber wife with a pale light grayish amber muzzle, pale light grayish cerulean eyes, and a dark gamboge mane.
Bulk Biceps - A light gray pegasus with vivid red eyes, a light amber mane, and light amber hooves.
Spitfire - A brilliant gold pegasus with strong orange eyes and a vivid orange mane with brilliant amber stripes.
Soarin - A very pale cornflower blue pegasus with moderate emerald green eyes and a dark grayish phthalo blue mane.
Fleetfoot - A light arctic blue pegasus with moderate cerise eyes (Newbie Dash and onward), brilliant fuchsia eyes (Rainbow Falls), and a light gray mane.
Misty Fly - A pale light grayish olive pegasus with moderate sea green eyes (Newbie Dash) and a light brilliant and very pale arctic blue mane.
Blaze - A light yellow pegasus with moderate purple eyes and a brilliant gamboge mane.
Silver Zoom - An arctic bluish gray pegasus with brilliant gold eyes and a light turquoisish and light opalish gray mane.
Surprise - A white pegasus with moderate raspberry eyes (Newbie Dash) and a vivid yellow mane.
High Winds - A light goldish gray pegasus with moderate harlequin eyes (Newbie Dash) and a dark and moderate cobalt blue mane.
Photo Finish - A pale light grayish cerulean earth pony with dark indigo eyes and a light gray mane.
Octavia Melody - A goldish gray earth pony with grayish mulberry eyes and a dark gray mane with a lighter tint.
DJ-Pon 3 - A yellowish white unicorn with moderate cerise eyes, a moderate cobalt blue mane with brilliant cyan stripes, glasses with a gradient of dark purple to moderate heliotrope streaks, light cobalt blue magic aura (Suited For Success), light magenta magic aura (Bloom & Gloom), and moderate magenta magic aura (Slice of Life).
Twilight Velvet - Twilight Sparkle's light gray unicorn mother with light arctic blue eyes, a moderate purple and light gray mane, moderate purple magic aura (The Crystalling Part 2), and brilliant cerise magic aura (A Canterlot Wedding Part 2, Once Upon a Zeppelin).
Night Light - Twilight Sparkle's grayish azure unicorn father with moderate amber eyes and a dark phthalo blue mane.
Fancy Pants - A light gray unicorn with light azure eyes, a light azure mane, and light gamboge mane.
Fleur de Lis - A light gray unicorn with pale light grayish violet eyes, a light magentaish gray mane with heliotropeish white streaks, pale light grayish violet eyeshadow, light heliotropeish gray magic aura (Sweet and Elite), and pale light grayish magenta magic aura (Canterlot Boutique).
Jet Set - A spring greenish gray unicorn with moderate azure eyes, a dark gray mane, and violetish white magic aura.
Upper Crust - Jet Set's pale light grayish olive wife with moderate persian blue eyes, a pale light grayish indigo mane with light gray streaks, moderate cyan eyeshadow, and moderate sap green magic aura.
Thunderlane - A dark magentaish gray pegasus with light gold eyes and a light cyanish gray mane with lighter streaks.
Rumble - Thunderlane's light bluish gray younger brother with grayish purple eyes and a mane in two shades of dark grayish sapphire blue.
Cloud Chaser - A pale persian blue pegasus with light rose eyes and a pale cerulean mane with white highlights.
Flitter - A pale light grayish persian blue pegasus with pale light grayish raspberry eyes and pale light grayish opal mane.
Angel - Fluttershy's white pet rabbit with black eyes.
Winona - Applejack's moderate tangelo pet collie with patches of white and black eyes.
Opalescence - Rarity's light turquoisish gray pet persian cat with a darker tail, light spring bud eyes, and light mulberryish gray eyeshadow.
Gummy - Pinkie Pie's light green pet alligator with a pale light grayish pistachio underbelly and pale purple eyes.
Owlowiscious - Twilight Sparkle's pale light grayish amber pet owl with grayish amber wings and dark grayish amber eyes.
Tank - Rainbow Dash's pet grayish sea green pet tortoise with grayish spring green, pale light grayish harlequin, pale light grayish lime green spots, a dark grayish malachite green shell lining, and dark grayish malachite green eyes.
Harry - A dark grayish amber bear with a grayish gold snout, a grayish gold underbelly, and light yellow eyes with moderate amaranth pupils.
Background characters
Amethyst Star - A pale light grayish magenta unicorn with moderate purple eyes, a moderate violet mane with light purple highlights, brilliant raspberry magic aura (The Mysterious Mare Do Well and The Mane Attraction), light mulberry magic aura (A Canterlot Wedding Part 2), grayish opal magic aura (Trade Ya and On Your Marks), moderate magenta magic aura (Trade Ya), and grayish mulberry magic aura (Tanks for the Memories).
Berryshine - A pale light grayish mulberry earth pony with moderate cerise eyes and a moderate cerise mane.
Candy Mane - A pale light grayish amber earth pony with moderate cerise eyes and a light rose mane with pale light grayish rose streaks.
Caramel - A light amber earth pony with moderate cerulean eyes and a grayish tangelo mane.
Cherry Berry - A very light rose earth pony with grayish indigo eyes and a brilliant gold mane.
Cherry Fizzy - A light gamboge earth pony with brilliant pistachio eyes and a very dark gray mane.
Cloud Kicker - A pale persian blue pegasus with grayish cerise eyes and a light brilliant amber and very light yellow mane.
Cloud Caesar - A medium gray earth pony with light gold eyes and a light sapphire bluish gray mane.
Crusoe Palm - A grayish brown earth pony with moderate violet eyes and a pale yellow mane.
Daisy - A pale magenta earth pony with moderate spring green eyes and a pale light grayish lime green mane.
Derpy - A light sapphire bluish gray pegasus with eyes in a gradient of pale light grayish apple green to moderate gamboge and a pale light grayish apple green mane.
Diamond Mint - A very light cerulean unicorn with pale light grayish purple eyes, a very light indigo mane with very pale persian blue highlights, pale light grayish indigo magic aura (The Cutie Map Part 2), and pale light grayish persian blue magic aura (Bloom & Gloom).
Dr. Hooves - A grayish amber earth pony with light cobalt blue eyes and a dark gamboge mane.
Golden Harvest - A pale light grayish olive earth pony with moderate pistachio eyes and a brilliant gamboge mane.
Goldengrape - A pale light grayish gold earth pony with moderate azure eyes and a pale light grayish blue mane.
Lemon Hearts - A light brilliant yellow unicorn with moderate raspberry eyes, a moderate cerulean mane with a light cerulean tail streak, light pistachio magic aura (Hearth's Warming Eve), light cerulean magic aura (Putting Your Hoof Down), and moderate fuchsia (Trade Ya!, Twilight's Kingdom Part 1, and Hearthbreakers).
Lily Valley - A pale light grayish raspberry earth pony with pale light grayish gold eyes and a light amber with pale amber highlights.
Lucky Clover - A light cobalt bluish gray earth pony with pale light grayish cobalt blue eyes and a dark gray mane.
Watermelon Hearts - A pale light green and reddish pony with a symbol of watermelon who likes watermelons and lemon hearts.
Nelvana Hearts - A pale light blue and whitish pony with a symbol of the logo of Nelvana who likes nelvana.
