Can Ponyta be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Pokemon GO players can expect to see Ponyta for much of May 2023, thanks to a few upcoming events. Not only is the Generation I Fire-type receiving a Spotlight Hour on May 9, but it will also be seen in a special costume for the "A Valorous Hero" event from May 11 to May 17. This should give trainers plenty of opportunities to capture the Fire Horse Pokemon.

Catching this creature is all well and good, but what about its shiny variant? Is there a chance that trainers can capture a shiny Ponyta during the upcoming events?

Fortunately, the answer is yes, as shiny Ponyta made its Pokemon GO debut in November 2018 and has been obtainable in the game ever since.

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How to catch shiny Ponyta in Pokemon GO in May 2023

Thanks to the two upcoming events over the course of May, Pokemon GO players should have plenty of opportunities to encounter a shiny Ponyta both in the wild or elsewhere.

Shiny appearances aren't guaranteed in most circumstances. However, the increased amount of Ponyta encounters can potentially yield a few shinies. It may not be a sure thing, but finding shiny Ponyta during these events should be much easier than doing so during normal gameplay.

During Ponyta's Spotlight Hour, Pokemon GO players should be able to find the Fire Horse Pokemon spawning in high volume in the wild. However, this event only takes place on May 9, 2023, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm local time.

This may not be a huge timeframe to operate in, but if players have time to spare and can take part in this event, it should certainly lend them a good opportunity to find shiny Ponyta. This is particularly true if players have some spare Incense or Lure Modules to use, which should increase the spawns even more.

According to information provided by outlets such as Serebii and LeekDuck, Pokemon GO's "A Valorous Hero" event should also present an opportunity to catch a shiny Ponyta, albeit not in the wild. These reputable sources have confirmed that Ponyta will be a reward for completing Field Research Tasks during the full scope of the event.

It has been confirmed that shiny Ponyta can also appear, though the specific Field Research Task that rewards this Pokemon has yet to be confirmed.

Nonetheless, the details should emerge in a few days as the event date closes in. Niantic may confirm as much itself when it makes an official announcement for A Valorous Hero.

In addition to these options, Pokemon GO players should still be able to capture a shiny Ponyta in the wild during regular gameplay outside of events. However, this will likely be much more difficult, as its spawns won't be prioritized, and it will have to compete with various other Pocket Monsters for spawning opportunities.

Regardless, if all else fails and trainers don't manage to find a shiny during May's events, they may have to head to the wild and take their chances.