Galarian Ponyta is Glorious and Confirmed to be Exclusive to Pokémon Shield

Pokémon Shield (and not Pokémon Sword) just got a whole lot more whimsical, thanks to the exclusive addition of Galarian Ponyta as an obtainable monster. Fans were teased with the inclusion of Galarian Ponyta during a recent 24-hour livestream that left some fans dissapointed. The new pocket monster was the only new reveal during the stream, so some fans felt as if they had wasted their time.

While that Pokémon Sword and Shield broadcast left many with a few brief glimpses of the creature, The Pokémon Company has now officially confirmed that it is Galarian Ponyta. This revelation doesn’t come as a surprise given that many correctly speculated on its true identity. What is more surprising, however, is the fact that Galarian Ponyta is exclusively found in Pokémon Shield.

This sort of verison exclusivity is far from unheard of in Pokémon games. It’s been happening for so long already that it’s expected at this point, but this time around there are some major exclusives for Pokémon Sword and Shield. For example, Sirfetch’d can only be obtained in Pokémon Sword, so in that regard things are starting to balance out between the versions. Now, if only fans were given a glimpse of what Galarian Rapidash looks like… Hopefully that comes sooner rather than later.

Other surpising details about Galarian Ponyta include the fact that it’s actually a Psychic-type Pokémon. This is a drastic changeup from Ponyta’s original Fire-type status. It also differs from what fans believed that creature would be–namely, a Fairy-type. Regardless, it’s still a visually stimulating addition to the games’ ever-growing roster of new monsters thanks to its glowing mane.

Canonically, the energy of Galar’s forests led to Ponyta taking on this unicorn-inspired form in Pokémon Shield. That bit of back story is fun and helps loosely explain why one of the most beloved Pokémon from the original games looks a little different. With the addition of Galarian Ponyta, however, there are now a total of four known mons with Galarian forms. The others include Zigzagoon, Linoone, and the now fan-favorite Weezing.

Of course, this brings up the question of if Galarian Ponyta will feature a third evolution after Rapidash, similiarly to Sirfetch’d or Obstagoon. If so, this addition has the potential to be an even better exclusive for Pokémon Shield owners if that ends up being the case. For now, the gleaming mane of Galarian Ponyta will have to suffice until Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are ready to talk turkey about the rest of the creatures debuting within both Sword and Shield this November 15th.

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