diff --git a/moto/autoscaling/models.py b/moto/autoscaling/models.py
index 2be2415544df..ed6a48dd7ee5 100644
--- a/moto/autoscaling/models.py
+++ b/moto/autoscaling/models.py
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@
 DEFAULT_COOLDOWN = 300
 
 
+class InstanceState(object):
+    def __init__(self, instance, lifecycle_state="InService"):
+        self.instance = instance
+        self.lifecycle_state = lifecycle_state
+
+
 class FakeScalingPolicy(object):
     def __init__(self, name, adjustment_type, as_name, scaling_adjustment,
                  cooldown, autoscaling_backend):
@@ -125,7 +131,7 @@ def __init__(self, name, availability_zones, desired_capacity, max_size,
         self.placement_group = placement_group
         self.termination_policies = termination_policies
 
-        self.instances = []
+        self.instance_states = []
         self.set_desired_capacity(desired_capacity)
 
     @classmethod
@@ -179,7 +185,7 @@ def set_desired_capacity(self, new_capacity):
         else:
             self.desired_capacity = new_capacity
 
-        curr_instance_count = len(self.instances)
+        curr_instance_count = len(self.instance_states)
 
         if self.desired_capacity == curr_instance_count:
             return
@@ -195,14 +201,14 @@ def set_desired_capacity(self, new_capacity):
             )
             for instance in reservation.instances:
                 instance.autoscaling_group = self
-            self.instances.extend(reservation.instances)
+                self.instance_states.append(InstanceState(instance))
         else:
             # Need to remove some instances
             count_to_remove = curr_instance_count - self.desired_capacity
-            instances_to_remove = self.instances[:count_to_remove]
-            instance_ids_to_remove = [instance.id for instance in instances_to_remove]
+            instances_to_remove = self.instance_states[:count_to_remove]
+            instance_ids_to_remove = [instance.instance.id for instance in instances_to_remove]
             self.autoscaling_backend.ec2_backend.terminate_instances(instance_ids_to_remove)
-            self.instances = self.instances[count_to_remove:]
+            self.instance_states = self.instance_states[count_to_remove:]
 
 
 class AutoScalingBackend(BaseBackend):
@@ -307,10 +313,10 @@ def delete_autoscaling_group(self, group_name):
         self.autoscaling_groups.pop(group_name, None)
 
     def describe_autoscaling_instances(self):
-        instances = []
+        instance_states = []
         for group in self.autoscaling_groups.values():
-            instances.extend(group.instances)
-        return instances
+            instance_states.extend(group.instance_states)
+        return instance_states
 
     def set_desired_capacity(self, group_name, desired_capacity):
         group = self.autoscaling_groups[group_name]
diff --git a/moto/autoscaling/responses.py b/moto/autoscaling/responses.py
index b9e62d7c3410..7d863c2db110 100644
--- a/moto/autoscaling/responses.py
+++ b/moto/autoscaling/responses.py
@@ -103,9 +103,9 @@ def set_desired_capacity(self):
         return template.render()
 
     def describe_auto_scaling_instances(self):
-        instances = self.autoscaling_backend.describe_autoscaling_instances()
+        instance_states = self.autoscaling_backend.describe_autoscaling_instances()
         template = self.response_template(DESCRIBE_AUTOSCALING_INSTANCES_TEMPLATE)
-        return template.render(instances=instances)
+        return template.render(instance_states=instance_states)
 
     def put_scaling_policy(self):
         policy = self.autoscaling_backend.create_autoscaling_policy(
@@ -243,13 +243,13 @@ def execute_policy(self):
         <EnabledMetrics/>
         <LaunchConfigurationName>{{ group.launch_config_name }}</LaunchConfigurationName>
         <Instances>
-          {% for instance in group.instances %}
+          {% for instance_state in group.instance_states %}
           <member>
             <HealthStatus>HEALTHY</HealthStatus>
             <AvailabilityZone>us-east-1e</AvailabilityZone>
-            <InstanceId>{{ instance.id }}</InstanceId>
-            <LaunchConfigurationName>{{ instance.autoscaling_group.launch_config_name }}</LaunchConfigurationName>
-            <LifecycleState>InService</LifecycleState>
+            <InstanceId>{{ instance_state.instance.id }}</InstanceId>
+            <LaunchConfigurationName>{{ group.launch_config_name }}</LaunchConfigurationName>
+            <LifecycleState>{{ instance_state.lifecycle_state }}</LifecycleState>
           </member>
           {% endfor %}
         </Instances>
@@ -315,14 +315,14 @@ def execute_policy(self):
 DESCRIBE_AUTOSCALING_INSTANCES_TEMPLATE = """<DescribeAutoScalingInstancesResponse xmlns="http://autoscaling.amazonaws.com/doc/2011-01-01/">
   <DescribeAutoScalingInstancesResult>
     <AutoScalingInstances>
-      {% for instance in instances %}
+      {% for instance_state in instance_states %}
       <member>
         <HealthStatus>HEALTHY</HealthStatus>
-        <AutoScalingGroupName>{{ instance.autoscaling_group.name }}</AutoScalingGroupName>
+        <AutoScalingGroupName>{{ instance_state.instance.autoscaling_group.name }}</AutoScalingGroupName>
         <AvailabilityZone>us-east-1e</AvailabilityZone>
-        <InstanceId>{{ instance.id }}</InstanceId>
-        <LaunchConfigurationName>{{ instance.autoscaling_group.launch_config_name }}</LaunchConfigurationName>
-        <LifecycleState>InService</LifecycleState>
+        <InstanceId>{{ instance_state.instance.id }}</InstanceId>
+        <LaunchConfigurationName>{{ instance_state.instance.autoscaling_group.launch_config_name }}</LaunchConfigurationName>
+        <LifecycleState>{{ instance_state.lifecycle_state }}</LifecycleState>
       </member>
       {% endfor %}
     </AutoScalingInstances>