The popularity of Lauren Faust's My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic has taken the Internet by surprise - with a huge Periphery Demographic and a very active community, it is, after only one season, already one of the most successful shows in Western Animation in recent years. Not bad, especially given that the previous incarnation of the ponies could have easily been a Franchise Killer. But what is it that made the show so successful? Let's try to figure that out. (And while you're at it, be sure to check out Write a Story.)