Pokémon Shield Announces New Regional Ponyta Variant
After some teasing and speculation via a Livestream the past weekend, the official Pokemon YouTube Channel has announced a new creature for Pokémon Shield: Galarian Ponyta.
With the release of Pokémon Sun and Moon in 2016, Pokémon games have begun to include regional variations of certain Pokémon that are only to be found in a specific area of the overall Pokémon world. In this case: Galar, the setting of 2019’s Pokémon Sword and Shield, inspired by the real life United Kingdom.
The original Ponyta has been part of the series’ canon ever since the release of the first entries in 1996. The original Ponyta is described as a “Fire Horse Pokémon” and is of the fire type. Galarian Ponyta on the other hand is a psychic Pokémon and bears the title “Unique Horn Pokémon”, which The Mane Quest officially deems “hella cute”.
Original Fire Type Ponyta
New Galarian Psychic Type Ponyta
Compared to the original version, Galarian Ponyta is pastel colored and softer in shape, which follows the general trend of Pokémon designs growing rounder and bearing fewer edges from iteration to iteration.
Galarian Ponyta will be a version exclusive, meaning that you will only be able to catch it in Pokémon Shield, while Pokémon Sword players can get the pastel pony through trade with other players.
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield will be released on the Nintendo Switch on November 15 2019.