Over analyzing the show...

I might write more later, but i've got to be quick at the moment so here's my theory on how the cutie marks tend to match their names.

For some ponies, their name would shape them. They would see their name as something to be proud of, or maybe see other ponies with cutie marks related to their names, and decide that they're going to try and honor their name by trying to get a cutie mark based around it. A part of it would also be parental influence, as some ponies may attempt to please their parents by getting the cutie mark that they "Chose" for them.

However, there are no doubt ponies who are a bit more rebellious or independent, and want to go against either their parents wishes, or choose to make their own way in life. To put it a bit more simply, imagine a world in which we were all given the names of the jobs we were expected to grow up to do. Some people might see it as a relief from the burden of having to chose their own job, but there are others who may be unhappy with their job, hence we get a situation similar to that as seen in the show.

 

Octavia appears to hold her cello's bow under the wrist. Given that the characters bend in interesting ways, it can be assumed that literal horse anatomy is out of the question for them.

Their cutie mark appears when they find their lifelong passion. That is such a blessing given how difficult it is to find your niches in life. :\

 

I'm guessing that the mother just KNOWS when giving birth to the pony what its main skill/passion is. That, or a midwife of sorts can tell these things and actually names the baby, otherwise you'd end up with parents unhappy at their baby's future, and deliberately giving them a different name in hope of forcing them into the family business or whatnot.

On another note, you know Prince Blueblood's behaviour at the Gala? He acted like an absolute jerk towards Rarity, right? Could this be because he's met plenty of what he sees as gold-digging social climbers, and decides to give Rarity some grief? It does come across as her only being interested in him because he could improve her social status.

Also, in Sonic Rainboom, Pinkie Pie is waving one of those foam hands. A HUMAN hand. In Winter Wrap-Up, Twilight has a saddle. Granted, she carries Spike around, but I swear I've seen other ponies with saddles. Why? Finally, Pinkie Pie (as Chancellor Puddinghead) in Hearth's Warming Eve states that the Earth is round. So it's the same Earth we live on, and Pinkie/Puddinghead knows it's called Earth. As such, I get the feeling that the show takes place loooooooong after nuclear war has destroyed Earth as we know it. The ponies evolved from some horses affected by the radiation (they're not really that much like horses; they can hold things, so their hooves have adapted, they can talk, some developed wings, some developed horns, and, with it, some skills that we'd see as magic), and some very subtle reminders of humanity remain, although the ponies don't really consider it much.
Now, there's another cartoon that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where most things have evolved to develop human-like speech, and there are more reminders of human civilisation, as well as one last actual human (plus two sort-of-humans; one with her DNA merged with bubblegum, one who has since become a vampire). That's right, I'm throwing it out there; MLP takes place many many many years after the events of Adventure Time, when most evidence of humanity is gone, save the odd artifact, and ponies have worked out their own technology. The Ice King has eventually died and his spirit lives on in the windigos. Dogs still exist, but don't talk and seem much less self-aware; possibly going through a kind of devolution. Think about it, it's possible (albeit mostly due to cartoon science).



Finally, how come Pound Cake (the equivalent of a toddler) can fly and Scootaloo (the equivalent of a ten-year-old) can't? Think back to The Cutie Mark Chronicles. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy look at least a couple of years older than Scootaloo and are only just learning to fly (Rainbow, obviously, takes to it much quicker than Fluttershy). Now, look at Scootaloo's wings compared to Pound's. They're pretty much the same size. Therefore, the reason Pound Cake can fly is because his body is much smaller (I can't explain him dragging Pinkie around, mind), so I'm guessing the wings are the last to develop. Scoot's wings will eventually grow and she'll start learning to fly like the other Pegasi (she won't remember how to from infancy, I guess).

 

well, to be fair, the foam finger could have originated with a less-pointy version of the Griffon hand, or maybe that weird thing covered in hands in the latest episode.

 

true, and saddlebags do seem to be the alternative to backpacks or purses, so it seems like a utility piece of clothing more for casual style and practicality than formal occasions or actual riding.
However, I will not accept a hand-wave in my over-analysis, good sir! The foam finger must have come from somewhere, even in a comedy sketch...unless Pinkie could break the barriers of reality to either come up with the idea or steal it. After the mirrors, one must always remember to treat Pinkie like an Eldritch Abomination whenever she enters that mode...

 

Bulls or oxen (I really didn't focus much) showed up in the latest episode pulling a cart of anvils.

Can't forget that Spike (dragon) has hands as well as griffons. However, dragons are apparently rare since Fluttershy initially mentions she's never seen a baby dragon before Spike.

 

Well, maybe they're vegetarian hot dogs. I'm sure some pony is growing soybeans somewhere out there. I'm guessing they keep cattle for the milk, and pigs are probably garbage disposals. I can't think of a vegetarian need for pigs otherwise.

 

yeah, chickens have feathers, cows have milk, and sheep have wool, but pigs...why are they there? I mean, is it in case a Griffon visits? Why spend the money to corral and feed them if they don't make anything? (well, in FiW, they use pig blood to dump on people, but Friendship is Witchcraft isn't quite canon)

 

well, not much people know, but pigs can be very good pets. Their general behavior and relations towards humans can develop (if humans don't eat them) similar as human-dog relationship. (also pony-pig). So why not keeping them as pets.

 

I would believe that fully, but they are kept locked up in the instances we see them, even while AJ's dog runs free beside her, and there is no evidence that they are allowed beyond their little fenced-off area.

Well, that being said, perhaps they are pets of Big Mac, or perhaps they are pig-sitting or pig-keeping for the greater SweetApple family?

 

Could pig poop be a kind of fertiliser?

 

yes it can, that may be one more explanation, specially since apple family is in agriculture business

 

Hmm, are the cows kept locked up? Or just more like our cows? Perhaps Perissodactyla is the dominant Order, and they're suppressing the Artiodactyla?

(Ha, ha! I get to use some fancy-smancy words!)

 

Especially since horses are usually seen in corrals . . .