what is a brony

A brony is a male fan of the animated television series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The term "brony" is a blend of "bro" and "pony" and was coined around 2010 on 4chan forum boards. Bronies are part of a community of fans who enjoy the show and are not afraid to admit it. The show was initially produced to appeal to young girls, but it has gained a following among adult males as well. Bronies are not necessarily effeminate or gay, and they are not always being ironic. The term "pegasister" is sometimes used to refer to female fans of the show. Some progressive-aligned or leftist fans of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic use the terms "pony fan", "MLP fan", or "My Little Pony fan" instead of "brony" due to various controversies surrounding the fandom.