P-Meter

The P-Meter is a type of meter first seen in Super Mario Bros. 3. For it to fill up, Mario or Luigi must keep running without stopping. Once the P-Meter is fully charged and the "P" icon starts flashing, Mario can run at full speed. However, if Mario is Raccoon Mario or Tanooki Mario, he will have the ability to fly if the P-Meter is full, but only for a short period of time. Once the P-Meter empties, Mario stops flying and descends. If Mario uses a P-Wing before entering a level, the P-Meter is full for the rest of the stage or until Mario touches an enemy or loses a life, meaning Mario can fly for an unlimited amount of time.

In the Super Mario All-Stars version and the Game Boy Advance remake of Super Mario Bros. 3, instead of its original black and white appearance, the P-Meter is colored orange when filled up, and the "P" icon flashes red.

The P-Meter returns in New Super Mario Bros. 2, only appearing when Mario is Raccoon Mario (or White Raccoon Mario), with a few changes. The "P" icon is replaced by a P-Wing icon (which flashes golden), the meter itself is colored red when filled up, and the meter gradually empties as Mario keeps flying, unlike in Super Mario Bros. 3 where the meter remains full until Mario stops flying.