In 2008, My Little Pony toys celebrated 25 wonderful years of fantasy and celebrity status. Designed and manufactured by Hasbro, My Little Pony toys have provided magical fun for millions of girls around the world for decades, and are still around today providing fun for kids and adult collectors alike.
These cute, rainbow-colored little pony toys have a long and varied history, but the intrinsic characters of the ponies remain the same: whimsical and wondrous, just as Hasbro intended and portrayed with some very powerful marketing ploys.
Most little girls dream of owning a pony, and My Little Pony toys make that dream come true. Especially for girls born in the 1970s who grew up in the 1980s, as My Little Pony toys inspired almost an entire generation. Those same little girls from the days of the first ponies are now adults who still love their Little Pony toys, which have become highly collectible.
Of course, My Little Pony toys continued to be very popular after this first generation of children grew up, but their shapes and designs changed, and imitation products came onto the market to compete with them. Prior to any such competition, when they were first introduced in 1983, My Little Pony toys became so popular that at one point they outsold the infamous and hugely successful Barbie doll.
The start of My Little Pony toys followed the closely related My Pretty Pony toys, its American predecessor, which was introduced to the market in 1981. My Pretty Pony was produced by the Romper Room under license from Hasbro, although Hasbro later obtained The patent. . My Pretty Pony was much bigger than the My Little Pony we know of, and her coloring was much earthier than My Little Pony’s pretty pastel colors, with primary colored accessories.
The first generation of My Little Pony toys ran from 1983 to 1995 (1992 in the US) and initially there were only six little ponies. These six original ponies were all earth ponies, meaning they did not have wings or horns, unlike later little ponies. They had silky, brushable manes and tails and their own individual symbols on the flanks. Each little pony came with a ribbon and comb to brush them.
One of the first My Little Ponies was launched with the Grooming Parlor (Pretty Parlor in the US) in 1983. The Grooming Parlor was a rectangular blue plastic case that opened into a parlor to groom your little pony. He arrived with a comb, ribbons, hats, a bridle, saddle, and tags to display under a pony positioned center stage. It also came with a tabby cat and a pink basket that could be tied to the pony’s back.
My Little Pony toys later changed in appearance over time, though they retained their pastel-colored bodies with a differently colored mane and tail, and individual symbols on their flanks. Following the original Earth ponies came Unicorn and Pegasus ponies, and the baby ponies were available in all three models: Earth, Unicorn, and Pegasus forms. The first babies were similar to their “mothers” but smaller and slightly subdued in color. Later babies were given more distinctive identities of their own.
In 1997 (1999 in the US and 2003 worldwide), Hasbro relaunched the My Little Pony brand and it enjoyed a huge renaissance in popularity (although for many it had never disappeared, as My Little Pony toys were enduring icons that represented childhood dreams). These second generation ponies were created in all new poses. They were smaller and more slender than the original first generation of ponies, with longer legs, jewel eyes, and swiveling heads. Most of them were earth ponies, but there were a few unicorns, though there were no pegasus ponies and only two baby ponies.
All Generation 2 My Little Pony toys were discontinued in 2003 when the current next generation of little ponies was introduced. Generation 3 includes the re-release of some original ponies but in different poses or outfits and most of them have shiny bodies and matte symbols on the sides.
From 2003 to 2005 only earth ponies were released, then in 2005 pegasus ponies were released and in 2006 unicorn ponies. In 2008, Hasbro reduced its My Little Pony toys to seven ponies and no new ponies will be released, although some older models will be re-released.
No matter what happens in the future of My Little Pony toys, they will always retain their charm and appeal to millions of little girls and adults around the world and are sure to have a long and magical life ahead of them. Her playful and whimsical nature will remain for generations of little girls to enjoy, and her iconic status is expected to stand the test of time.
