- Return to Sounds of Silence
Schisms Between Tribes[]
So with the addition of the Kirin in this episode, we've got several different varieties of ponies within the universe. Question is, how do we fit them in with the lore of the series, going back to Equestria's found by the three tribes of Earth ponies, unicorns, and Pegasi, to say nothing of Alicorns? Well, were I to venture a guess, I would say that prior to the events depicted in the Hearth's Warming Eve pageant involving the Founders of Equestria, there may have been fractured relations not only between the three primary tribes, but between factions within the tribes as well. Basically, the idea is that ponies who started out as members of the same group eventually developed differences that led to splits.
Now, in my mind there's kind of two schools of thought on this idea. First, there's the concept that there was once a singular tribe/breed of pony, and that eventually it broke up and developed the attributes of those we're familiar with. Alternatively, the three main tribes-the E.U.P trinity, as it were-may have originated separately but remained members of the same species, albeit with some variation. Either way, at some point we ended up with the three main tribes, living separately and apparently having as little to do with each other as possible.
Essentially, my idea is that eventually things went a step further, and each of the three main tribes eventually split into at least two distinct groups. Each of these groups retained some similar features to the original tribe, but with some pretty drastic variations. As such, we get the Earth ponies and Crystal Ponies; the unicorns and Kirin; and the Pegasi and Thestrals bat ponies. Other variations may be possible as well, given the existence of Zebras and-at least in the comics-the Umbrum, but at present those six divisions seem to have the most bearing.
From there, the thought is that each divided tribe went its own way: the Crystal ponies to the frozen north, the Kirin to an area south of the Dragon Lands, and the Thestrals bat ponies to who knows where (though I'm dying to find out). Eventually the three main tribes got together, and eventually welcomed the Crystal Ponies into the fold as well. However, it seems that the remaining two "lost" tribes have been left out in the cold for the most part. Sounds of Silence may change that for the Kirin...now if only we could get an episode that does the same for the Thestrals bat ponies...--Kilmarnock228 (talk) 23:02, August 9, 2018 (UTC)