The Free Republic of Ponderosa is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by President Walker with a fair hand, and renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape, unlimited-speed roads, and keen interest in outer space. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 15.668 billion Ponderosans live in a state of perpetual fear, as a complete breakdown of social order has led to the rise of order through biker gangs.

The minute, corrupt, liberal, pro-business, outspoken government, or what there is of one, is effectively ruled by the Department of Industry, although Education is also considered important, while Environment and Welfare are ignored. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Santa Fe. Income tax is unheard of.

The frighteningly efficient Ponderosan economy, worth a remarkable 5,319 trillion Ponderosa dollars a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Retail, Soda Sales, and Arms Manufacturing. Average income is an amazing 339,486 Ponderosa dollars, but there is a large disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 1,559,153 per year while the poor average 44,852, a ratio of 34.8 to 1.

The government is spending millions on 'trust campaigns' in an effort to win back the public's support, a faint smell of body odour can be detected at several miles' distance from the National Science Park, the morbidly obese often sell stock options on their own corpses, and write-in candidate 'President Walker Sucks' is perennially popular. Crime, especially youth-related, is so common that it is unusual to encounter someone following the law, perhaps because of the country's complete lack of prisons. Ponderosa's national animal is the Osprey, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Ponderosa is ranked 202,696^th in the world and 398^th in Wintreath for Least Corrupt Governments, with 41.04 Percentage Of Bribes Refused.