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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Princess Peach

Princess Peach is a fictional character in Nintendo’s Mario franchise and the princess and ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Princess Peach is a fictional character in Nintendo’s Mario franchise and the princess and ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. She first appeared in Super Mario Bros. (1985) and is one of the series’ central characters, often portrayed as Mario’s love interest and a recurring rescue target.

Character overview

Princess Peach is one of the most recognisable characters in Nintendo’s Mario franchise. She is typically depicted as the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom and a central figure in the series’ storylines.

Appearances in games

Peach debuted in Super Mario Bros. and has appeared in most subsequent Mario games. In some titles, including Super Princess Peach, she serves as the playable protagonist rather than the character who must be rescued.

Name and depiction

The character was originally known in Western markets as Princess Toadstool, while the Japanese name has long been Peach. Her visual design is commonly associated with pink clothing, blonde hair, and royal imagery.

Cultural impact

Peach is widely regarded as one of the best-known female video game characters. She has been featured across games, spin-off titles, and other official Mario-related media.

Key facts

  • Princess Peach first appeared in Super Mario Bros. in 1985.
  • She is the princess and head of state of the Mushroom Kingdom.
  • She was known outside Japan as Princess Toadstool before the name Peach became standard.
  • She is a recurring main character in the Mario series and often appears as Mario’s love interest.
  • In many main-series games, her role is that of a captive rescued by Mario from Bowser.
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Canadian context

Princess Peach is widely known to Canadian audiences through Nintendo games, merchandise, and Mario-related media distributed in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Princess Peach?
Princess Peach is a fictional character from Nintendo’s Mario franchise, where she is the princess and ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom.
When did Princess Peach first appear?
She first appeared in Super Mario Bros. in 1985.
Was Princess Peach always called Princess Peach?
No. Outside Japan, she was commonly known as Princess Toadstool before Peach became the standard name.
What is Princess Peach’s role in the Mario games?
She is often a central supporting character and is frequently depicted as someone Mario must rescue from Bowser.
Is Princess Peach ever a playable character?
Yes. She is playable in many Mario spin-offs and is the main character in Super Princess Peach.
Who created Princess Peach?
Princess Peach was created by Shigeru Miyamoto.

References

  1. MarioWiki — https://www.mariowiki.com/Princess_Peach
    Supports: First appearance, Japanese and Western names, role in the Mario franchise, residence, and creator attribution.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Peach
    Supports: Debut in Super Mario Bros., role as Mushroom Kingdom ruler, recurring portrayal as Mario's love interest, and broad media appearances.
  3. Mario Wiki - Fandom — https://mario.fandom.com/wiki/Princess_Peach
    Supports: Character overview, debut, recurring role, and relationship to other Mario characters.