Ponyta is the latest Pokémon to get a regional variant. In the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield games, Galarian Ponyta can be found exclusively in Pokémon Shield.
Galarian Ponyta looks like they just ran off the set of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. They’re known as the Unique Horn Pokémon, and have the Psychic type instead of Ponya’s Fire type.
Galarian Ponyta’s sparkling mane isn’t just for show, as they also possess the Pastel Veil ability. Pastel Veil prevents the Pokémon from becoming poisoned, and even cures ally Pokémon when it switches onto the battlefield. Psychic is already super effective against Poison, making Galarian Ponyta a particularly strong counter against that type.
Ponyta joins Weezing, Zigzagoon, and Linoone as fellow existing Pokémon with Galarian forms. Linoone and Farfetch’d are also getting new Galarian-only evolutions with Obstagoon and Sirfetch’d. Sirfetch’d is a version exclusive to Pokémon Sword.
Ponyta’s evolution, Rapidash, has not been announced as a new form, but history tells us it will almost certainly follow suit, as it doesn’t make any sense to evolve a variant and have it revert to its original version.
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are launching November 15 on Nintendo Switch. They’re rated E for Everyone.
