Zecora (Friendship is Magic)

Zecora is a Zebra who lives in the Everfree Forest near Ponyville, Equestria.

Early life
Zecora grew up in Zebrat, the capital of her homeland of Farasi. Like her future friend, Zecora was a rather introverted child, spending more time reading than playing games. That changed when she befriended another young Zebra, Marini, and her Abada and Kelpie playmates Cactus Rose, Crystal, Dust Devil, and Medley Brook. The six youngsters grew close, and enjoyed such activities as Ogres & Oubliettes LARPing. They were also classmates under the tutelage of Ms. Alegre, one of whose lessons would later irrevocably alter Zecora's life.

Upon hearing that Zebras, unlike Abada and Kelpies, possessed no magical abilities or potential, Zecora became determined to gain magical skills. She studied the subject ravenously, and was surprised to learn of Mage Meadowbrook, who defied Alegre's statements that only s could learn magic. Zecora also took to speaking almost entirely in rhyme, having apparently learned that it was typical language for spells. This was to the chagrin of her five friends, whose responses to her aspirations varied but in general expressed little or no hope that she could achieve her goals. As Zecora later recalled, they would often tease her; eventually, Zecora left home with no intention of returning home.

It's unknown when Zecora moved into the Everfree Forest, but when she did, she was not at all welcomed due to her strange (to the neighboring Ponyville ponies) appearance and choice of residence.

Personality
Zecora is mature, kind, forgiving an benevolent. Zecora has the uncanny ability to rhyme just about anything, and exclusively speaks in it. Zecora often acts as a mentor figure to those younger than her, teaching them not only about Zebra Magic, but also guiding them through life. Over the course of her stay in Ponyville, Zecora has displayed amazing levels of patience and understanding. Even when she was ostracized, had her hut thrashed and and treated like a villain, she found it in her heart to forgive those who believed her to be evil. Similarly to Twilight, Zecora is extremely intelligent with a mastery over both science and magic, though unlike Twilight, Zecora's scientific know-how seems to be mostly based around medical work.

Friendships
Zecora has become a close personal friend to most of Ponyville, but has become particularly close with Apple Bloom and Twilight Sparkle, both of whom often look to her for advice and help. Zecora has also become close friends with Spike as they both know how it feels to be the odd one out, given them being different species then their loved ones.