Big McIntosh

Big Macintosh is Applejack's and Apple Bloom's older brother, of the Apple family. He is first seen in the first episode walking idly in Ponyville the moment Twilight Sparkle first arrives, and later introduced during the Apple family reunion, although he had no speaking roles until the fourth episode, Applebuck Season. He is soft-spoken, and often replies with a simple "eeyup" or "nnnope".

Development and design
Big Macintosh's original name was Big Apple, but it was changed at the request of Hasbro's legal department. The new name alludes to the McIntosh variety of apple, which is mostly red with green streaks on its skin. Big Macintosh's design ("size and hairy feet") is inspired by G1 Big Brother Ponies.

His appearance is that of a draft pony: his tail is cropped, a common practice with work horses to prevent it becoming tangled in the harness or cart shafts, and he wears a yoke in all his appearances, including the younger version of him in The Cutie Mark Chronicles. He is generally seen with a sprig of wheat hanging out of the side of his mouth. He and Applejack have similar large, light "freckles" on their cheeks. During his first appearance in Friendship is Magic, part 1, his cutie mark is depicted with twinkles around the apple which are not present in following appearances, but they return in Sisterhooves Social.

Personality
Big Macintosh has a rather calm and easy-going demeanor in contrast with his sister Applejack's more stubborn and rushy attitude. His appearance matches his demeanor; his eyes are generally half closed and he looks slightly bored.

He is presented as a pony of few words and, like the rest of his family, he speaks with an accent suggestive of the Missouri Ozarks, where many apple orchards can be found. He speaks calmly and slowly and never raises his voice. He seems to have a practical sort of wisdom, certainly greater than his little sister Applejack, who gets angry at him for "using his fancy mathematics" on her. He tends not to elaborate on a point if a simple "eeyup" will suffice.

In Lesson Zero, he displays his concision, as well as both a softer side and considerable physical strength. He is dog-piled by the majority of the citizens of Ponyville, but he throws them off in a cartoonish explosion, sending some of them over the horizon in the process. Once the spell is lifted from the Smarty Pants doll, he still runs off with it, showing his infatuation with it was at least partly genuine.

History
"Eeyup."

- Big Macintosh's characteristic phrase

Big Macintosh first appears walking through town as Twilight lands in episode one. Later in the same episode, he makes a brief appearance at the Apple family reunion. Although he is mentioned by name and referred to in following episodes, he doesn't speak until Applebuck Season.

In Applebuck Season, Big Macintosh is shown to have sustained some form of injury which renders him unable to help with the annual apple harvesting, prompting Applejack to attempt harvesting the entire orchard herself. The injury may have been caused by a bet between Applejack and him, which Applejack can be heard talking about at the beginning of The Ticket Master.

In Winter Wrap Up, Big Macintosh, alongside the other Earth ponies, is seen clearing away the snow in the fields around Ponyville and tells Applejack that Caramel has lost his seeds. In Fall Weather Friends, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, and Apple Bloom cheer on Applejack during the Iron Pony competition.

Applejack's flashback in The Cutie Mark Chronicles depicts Big Macintosh as a younger pony, showing him as much shorter and scrawnier than in the present.

In Season 2, he is seen during the Return of Harmony Part 2. After Discord has taken over Ponyville, his influence causes Big Macintosh to behave like a dog.

In Lesson Zero, Twilight Sparkle slams into him after attempting to break up a fight she started between the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Big Macintosh retrieves Smarty Pants from the fillies, but due to Twilight's spell, falls in love with it himself, and runs away with the doll. After it exchanges hooves several times, and Princess Celestia neutralizes the spell, Big Macintosh looks around, then grabs the doll and runs off again, neighing with joy.

Big Macintosh is very briefly seen at the beginning of Luna Eclipsed dressed up in his Nightmare Night costume and pulling several ponies in a carriage across the town. He also assists Granny Smith as the race announcer in Sisterhooves Social.

In The Cutie Pox, he is seen inside Sweet Apple Acres, during the discussion of Apple Bloom's cutie marks. He only speaks by answering in "Eeyup" or "Nnope" to Applejack.

"Nnnope."

- Big Macintosh's less than characteristic phrase, from Lesson Zero

Appearances

 * See also character appearances

Big Macintosh appears in the following episodes: Friendship is Magic, part 1, The Ticket Master, Applebuck Season, Dragonshy, Swarm of the Century, Winter Wrap Up, Fall Weather Friends, The Cutie Mark Chronicles, The Return of Harmony Part 2, Lesson Zero, Luna Eclipsed, Sisterhooves Social. and The Cutie Pox.

Merchandise
Big Macintosh is part of the Surprise Bag toys released in early November 2011.

Gallery

 * Big Macintosh image gallery

Trivia

 * Big Macintosh was named after an apple cultivate called McIntosh.
 * A pony with the same color scheme as Caramel is seen in the opening theme song, pulling a cart. However, the pony's design looks like Big Macintosh's. This was later changed in the remastered theme song, which first appeared in Lesson Zero. However, the character is used as a background pony in a few scenes after the intro of the same episode.
 * Big Macintosh hasn't spoken a full sentence since the episode Applebuck Season.
 * Big Macintosh was finally given the nickname "Big Mac" in the episode The Cutie Pox.