One does not conventionally associate rainbows and prancing ponies christened Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle with the male gender.

However, the aforementioned qualities are all staples of the family oriented television show “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” which has an increasingly popular male audience.

In fact, an entirely male culture centered on the show’s overlaying themes of friendship and tolerance has stemmed from the show.

These masculine adherents to the “My Little Pony” (MLP) culture are dubbed “bronies” and express their fondness for the show by simply watching the program, participating in online forums, enjoying music inspired by the show, either reading or creating fan-fiction, and engaging in fan-art.

Bronies can also be known to purchase MLP merchandise to illustrate their devotion to the show.

“I like to be weird and off from the mainstream,“ said sophomore Brony Brian Zimmerman.

Zimmerman first stumbled across MLP while on the website 4Chan, and was attracted by the program’s animation, story line, and sense of nostalgia. He is especially attracted to the variety of musical selections featured on the show.

“They move across genres from folksy to rock ballads, “ said Zimmerman.

Zimmerman currently cultivates his appreciation for the show by staying tuned into sites such as YouTube and Tumblr.  He is especially captivated by fan-produced music inspired by the show.

Like Zimmerman, sophomore Luis Rodriguez’s fondness for the show stems from the animation. Rodriguez is also attracted to the family nature of the program.

“It is nicely made as compared to lazy cartoons, and there is actually work put into it,” said Rodriguez. “Almost every aspect appeals to family, not one audience.”

Rodriguez discovered MLP by watching the show with his younger siblings. While he identifies with the term brony, the extent of his involvement with the culture is limited to merely enjoying the show and occasionally viewing items on Reddit associated with the program.

Senior Seth Parsons also has an affinity with the show, although he does not take kindly to the term brony.

“It is horrible Frankenstein of a word,” said Parsons.

Parsons enjoys the show for its high quality animation, engaging writing, and witty humor.  He also appreciates the contrast that the themes of tolerance and friendship impose in comparison to other television programs that seem to promote less cheery habits. Parsons participates in the brony culture by reveling in the music, fan-produced fiction and animation. Parsons has even served as an open source editor on MLP fan-fiction websites.

Junior Keeghan Shriver’s attachment to the brony culture can be attributed to the emphasis on friendship that the program promotes.

He connects with other bronies by meeting to discuss episodes and occasionally dresses to reflect his love for the show.  While Shriver has encountered people, including his father, that receive his brony status negatively due to the misconception that the show is solely feminine, he remains unaffected and clings to the show’s positive message.

“I have learned from that [the show’s subtitle “Friendship is Magic”],” said Shriver, “That if you surround yourself with friends, your life will be magical.”