Hasbro's first pony toy, My Pretty Pony, was a ten-inch hard plastic figurine introduced in 1981 that could wiggle its ears and wink. It sold poorly, so in 1982 Hasbro released six smaller, colourful ponies under the name My Little Pony. The line's generations are named by collectors, with the first generation ending in the United States in 1992. The fourth generation, launched in 2010 in a world called Equestria, drew an unusually large adult fanbase, known as bronies. Later generations, including a 2021 reboot, drew smaller fan followings. The brand was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2024.

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.