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I really like how the cartoon did some aspects of alicorns, but really hate some other aspects (yes you, Celestia-recolour-lookin Twilight and bug eyed Flurry Heart). So here's how I would do it.

An alicorn is not just a pegasus with a horn stuck on. Alicorns possess the magic of all three of the regular pony races: earth, unicorn and pegasus. I like a lot how the cartoon gives alicorns a larger and broader wing shape to pegasi and longer horns than unicorns to show they are not the same. There are two types of alicorn in my headcanon:

Natural alicorns e.g. Celestia and Luna, are born as alicorns. They have far longer lifespans than other ponies and are much larger with a slimmer build and different shaped head. Their horns have a curve to them, unlike unicorns and ascended alicorns. Alongside their earth, unicorn and pegasus magic, they also have their own very powerful type of magic, allowing them to control a unique aspect of the natural world, for example the orbits of heavenly bodies. The strength of this magic means it can be highly dangerous if not properly controlled. For this reason, they are regarded as godlike leaders in pony society. Only natural alicorns ever attain the plasma-like flowing mane and tail.
a.k.a get fucked ugly ass Twilight.

Ascended alicorns are regular earth, pegasus or unicorn ponies that have been transformed into alicorns by a natural alicorn. This is the only way that they can come into existence. The reason that Flurry Heart's birth was so miraculous is that she is the only known case of an alicorn foal being born in Equestria to parents that are not natural alicorns. I like to compare this to a foal being borne to a mule: almost impossibly rare, but has happened. Usually, an ascended alicorn's genes will act as they would if they weren't ascended. These alicorns are selected for ascension based on their exceptional mastery of thier natural magic. In theory, a natural alicorn could chose to ascend a pony without exceptional magical ability, but the gruelling ascension process would probably kill them. The pony will gain a small amount of alicorn magic upon ascension, but not close to what a natural alicorn has. Even if the pony was a pegasus or unicorn, they will have new wings/tail feathers/horn in the alicorn style, rather than keeping their old ones. If an earth pony or pegasus, they will gain a long lion-like tail. All will eventually gain a tall stature (think Cadance's shape, not Celestia).

To explain the animation error "alicorns":

Pegacorns are the result of a rare birth defect can happen where a pony is born with both pegasus wings and a unicorn horn. These are not alicorns, as the horn and wings will be the standard unicorn/pegasus size and shape. They do not have the stature or enhanced magic of an alicorn, and will actually have unusually weak magic in one of the areas, for example, normal unicorn magic, but reduced flight/cloud standing ability.

Description
I really like how the cartoon did some aspects of alicorns, but really hate some other aspects (yes you, Celestia-recolour-lookin Twilight and bug eyed Flurry Heart). So here's how I would do it.

An alicorn is not just a pegasus with a horn stuck on. Alicorns possess the magic of all three of the regular pony races: earth, unicorn and pegasus. I like a lot how the cartoon gives alicorns a larger and broader wing shape to pegasi and longer horns than unicorns to show they are not the same. There are two types of alicorn in my headcanon:

Natural alicorns e.g. Celestia and Luna, are born as alicorns. They have far longer lifespans than other ponies and are much larger with a slimmer build and different shaped head. Their horns have a curve to them, unlike unicorns and ascended alicorns. Alongside their earth, unicorn and pegasus magic, they also have their own very powerful type of magic, allowing them to control a unique aspect of the natural world, for example the orbits of heavenly bodies. The strength of this magic means it can be highly dangerous if not properly controlled. For this reason, they are regarded as godlike leaders in pony society. Only natural alicorns ever attain the plasma-like flowing mane and tail.
a.k.a get fucked ugly ass Twilight.

Ascended alicorns are regular earth, pegasus or unicorn ponies that have been transformed into alicorns by a natural alicorn. This is the only way that they can come into existence. The reason that Flurry Heart's birth was so miraculous is that she is the only known case of an alicorn foal being born in Equestria to parents that are not natural alicorns. I like to compare this to a foal being borne to a mule: almost impossibly rare, but has happened. Usually, an ascended alicorn's genes will act as they would if they weren't ascended. These alicorns are selected for ascension based on their exceptional mastery of thier natural magic. In theory, a natural alicorn could chose to ascend a pony without exceptional magical ability, but the gruelling ascension process would probably kill them. The pony will gain a small amount of alicorn magic upon ascension, but not close to what a natural alicorn has. Even if the pony was a pegasus or unicorn, they will have new wings/tail feathers/horn in the alicorn style, rather than keeping their old ones. If an earth pony or pegasus, they will gain a long lion-like tail. All will eventually gain a tall stature (think Cadance's shape, not Celestia).

To explain the animation error "alicorns":

Pegacorns are the result of a rare birth defect can happen where a pony is born with both pegasus wings and a unicorn horn. These are not alicorns, as the horn and wings will be the standard unicorn/pegasus size and shape. They do not have the stature or enhanced magic of an alicorn, and will actually have unusually weak magic in one of the areas, for example, normal unicorn magic, but reduced flight/cloud standing ability.