During Princess Twilight's rule she advanced pony technology by leaps and bounds. During this time deep space travel was obtained and soon after colonization of another world.

"The way is opened to the heavens: with it, come power, wealth and glory previously unimaginable to our previously planet-bound perceptions. Millions of stars, waiting to be explored; millions of worlds, ripe for the taking. The future awaits those who have the will to seize it. It is our manifested destiny to spread harmony to the cosmos, and share our friendship with those who we shall meet, in that infinite, final frontier.

Now, together as one, let us all take that first step."

--- Princess Twilight Sparkle, upon the successful jump of Equestria's first practical FTL spacecraft to a nearby star, marking the start of a great age of interstellar exploration and colonization.

It is now a thousand year after Twilight and her friends have passed. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna now rule over an entire sector of space. Despite this Celestia still finds time to run her School for Gifted Unicorns.

But, This is not where our story starts. Far from Equestria deep in space a pirate is about to have his life change forever.

Thanks BrutalityInc for writing the quote from Twilight and letting me use it.
Image was drawn by NCMares for me through a Commotion on DeviantArt.
Here's a link: http://ncmares.deviantart.com/art/Comm-Final-Frontier-527546501