The Free Republic of Ponderosa is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by President Walker with a fair hand, and renowned for its deadly medical pandemics, multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, and otherworldly petting zoo. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 17.858 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, pro-business, outspoken government, or what there is of one, is effectively ruled by the Department of Industry, with Environment and Welfare not funded at all. 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 6,059 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 339,297 Ponderosa dollars, but there is a large disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 1,636,949 per year while the poor average 40,888, a ratio of 40.0 to 1.

Parents must decide between buying food and taking their children to the park, one can walk from one side of Santa Fe to the other without setting foot on Ponderosan soil, the price of freedom is about half a million Ponderosa dollars, and record numbers of students are leaving school to enter the workforce. 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 3,210^th in the world and 11^th in Wintreath for Largest Manufacturing Sector, scoring 51,587.3 on the Gooback-Jerbs Productivity Index.