Ponies are not by nature extremely religious, being rather concrete-minded in general, but at least two religious movements are significant on the Isle of Yore in the 34th Century AE: the Old Religion, and the Overseen.

The Old Religion venerates the Elements of Harmony and their historical bearers. Followers are encouraged to cultivate the Elements in their daily activities and live harmoniously with others, including non-believers and non-ponies. The Old Religion (which has no formal name for itself, originating in an era when it was so universal as to be implicit) has Shrines of Harmony in many towns in the Dusts; smaller settlements are served by wandering ponies religious. The Sun and Moon are sacred to the Old Religion; its most important festivals are on the solstices. The orthodox Old Religion is the state religion of New Equestria, and its de facto head on the Isle of Yore is the Right Reverend Archimandrite of New Canterlot.

The Overseen are a group of ponies who worship the Boreal Eye, a small heavenly body visible in the night sky of Equus. Their doctrine regards the Eye as the domain of the Lost Princesses, who watch and judge the people of Equus. The Overseen do not oppose the tenants of the Old Religion and are usually regarded as a denomination thereof, but they emphasize the importance of strength, courage, and obedience. Some strains of the Overseen practices asceticism, and monasticism is important in their religious life.

The leaders of Trenchtown are sometimes accused by outsiders of promoting a cult of personality involving themselves.

There are various small cults and new religious movements, usually local in scope. Many are urban. Tephra Island is said to be home to a cult of fire-worshippers.

Forms of Religious Expression

Participation in organized religion is an occasional affair for many ponies in the present day, although there is considerable geographic and individual variation. In a few areas, participation in formal religious activities on a weekly basis is the norm.

Monastacism is a common mode of religious life in the Dusts, particularly among the Overseen, who maintain a number of monestaries. Cenobitic monastacism is the most common; the solitary life of a hermit does not agree with the psychology of most ponies, although occasional exceptions are heard of - some equine hermits are supposed to even dwell in the lowlands. Some religious dwell in urban sketes, as well. The Overseen use the same term (we translate it as "monk") for monastics of both genders and have mixed-gender monasteries. The monks are celibate, and their thinkers hold that celibacy as an ascetic discipline would be less meaningful for most practitioners without the presence of members of the opposite sex to avoid sexual contact with. The Old Religion has separate orders of monks and nuns.