
The fan community around the animated TV show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has been prolific in raising the profile of side characters and nameless background ponies seen throughout the series. These ponies have been given names, personalities, and back-stories that are largely based on which other ponies they are usually seen with, what they are often seen doing, and what their "cutie mark" looks like. In the show, background ponies are treated interchangeably, with their purpose being simply to make the setting seem more populated. The scenes are usually composed without them, and they are only later added during the layout phase. Thus, all names and personalities are purely the creation of the fan community.