Talk:The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone/@comment-11677914-20150524143722/@comment-10390252-20150525124342

"Equestria" seems to be used interchangably. It is both the name of the nation-state ruled over by Celestia and Luna and also, it seems, the continental landmass upon which that nation exists. However, it is not the only political entity there. The lyrics of Apples to the Core make it clear that the lands and states occupied by the pony race go beyond Equestria.

The Crystal Empire is at least partially independent nation. We also see nother independent pony nation mentioned in Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1. This implies that there are other pony states and it might also mean that ponies live on other continental landmasses other than Equestria but still consider themselves part of the broader commonwealth of the 'Pony Nation'.

TL;DR - Equestria the continent has several different nation states, of which Equestria the kingdom, the Crystal Empire and the Griffon Kingdom are three of which we currently know.