The Equestrian Confederation was an association of 28 Equestrian states, created by the Congress of Everfree in 10 BCE (Before Common Era) to coordinate the economies of separate Equestrian countries following the banishment of Discord in 11 BCE. For much of its history the Confederation had been weak and ineffective, and was heavily reliant on the Regal Sisters to preserve order.
 
The Confederation collapsed due to interstate rivalry, especially between Bayard and the Asturcon Kingdom, peasant revolts, the 8 BCE – 8 CE Reformation wars, and the inability of the multiple members to compromise. In 7 BCE, conflicts arose over the divine status of the Regal Sisters and the established tenets of the dominant Crystallian faith. Talks between the religious factions failed in 5 BCE, and the Confederation briefly dissolved, but was re-established shortly after, in 4 BCE.
 
The Confederation fell apart after the Bayari victory in the Seven Weeks’ War over the Asturcons in 3 BCE. A long debated border dispute fell in favor of Bayard, leading to a declaration of secession by the North Equestrian states under Pro-Crystallian leadership that same year. A number of South Equestrian states united under Celestia and Luna to reclaim the seceding states, which was renamed and proclaimed as the “Equestrian Empire” in 2 BCE for the now unified Equestria with Celestia and Luna sharing the title of Sovereign after their victory over the Kingdom of Grani in the Equestrian Civil War of 1 BCE.