Canterlot High School and Crystal Preparatory School opened on September 19, 1983. For the past 32 years, students at both schools have been receiving grades of 85 or more on standardized examinations. However, the Canterlot School District decided that one of these schools will be permanently closed at the end of the school year because of the district's financial problems. Both of these schools have been fighting to remain open year after year, causing major litigation. As a result the Canterlot Board of Education decided not to close any of the schools, but to agree on a compromise solution.



In the compromise solution, it was announced that the athletic teams of the two schools, the Wondercolts and the Shadowbolts, would compete against each other in an end-of-year sporting event known as the Friendship Games. The event, which would last two weeks, combines elements of Field Day with the elements of the Equestria Games found in the pony world. After all events have been completed, the school with the most medals would remain open. The losing school would be forced to close.