Unicorn Hasbro

Unicorn Hasbro

My Little Pony Toys and Collectables

In 2008 My Little Pony toys celebrated 25 years of magical playfulness and iconic status. Invented and manufactured by Hasbro My Little Pony toys have brought fun and friendship to millions of little girls all over the world for years, and they continue to bring enjoyment today to adults as well as children.

These rainbow coloured, cute little pony toys have a long and varied history but the ponies’ intrinsic characters remain the same – whimsical and wonderful, just as Hasbro intended and portrayed with some very powerful marketing strategies.

Almost every little girl dreams of owning a pony and My Little Pony Toys help to make that dream come true. Especially for the generation of little girls born in the 1970's, who then grew up in the 1980's, as My Little Pony toys were part of their dreams and aspirations. The same little girls that were around during the first generation of ponies are now grown ups who still love My Little Pony toys just as much and they have become very collectable.

My Little Pony toys continued to be massively popular after the first generation of children grew up and stopped playing with them but their shapes and colours changed and other companies made toys to compete with them. When they were first launched in 1983, before any competition hit the market, My Little Pony toys did so well that they even outsold Barbie at one point.

The launch of My Little Pony toys came shortly after My Pretty Pony toys, their closely related American predecessor that had been released in 1981. My Pretty Pony was made by Romper Room under the licence of Hasbro, although the patent was later obtained by Hasbro. My Pretty Pony was larger in size than the My Little Pony that followed, and her colouring was more earthy in tone than the pastel, unrealistic colours of My Little Pony.

The first generation of ponies ran from 1983 to 1995 (1992 in the US) and there were originally just six ponies. The first six were all Earth ponies without wings or horns, unlike some of the later Unicorn and Pegasus ponies. They had silky, brushable manes and tails and their own individual symbols on their flanks. Each pony came with a comb for grooming and a ribbon for decoration.

One of the first My Little Ponies released also came with the Grooming Parlour (Pretty Parlour in the US), launched in 1983. The Grooming Parlour was a blue plastic rectangular carry-case that opened out into a parlour to groom your little pony. It came with ribbons, a comb, hats, a saddle and a bridle, as well as nametags to show a pony's name on the stage in the centre. It also had a tabby cat included with a pink basket that it could sit in, strapped to the pony's back.

My Little Pony toys changed thier appearance slightly over time but they retained their pastel colours and individual symbols on their sides. After the original Earth Ponies there were Unicorns, Pegasus ponies and baby ponies were made in all three varieties - Earth, Unicorn and Pegasus. The earliest baby ponies were like their mothers in looks but smaller and in lighter, softer colours. Later on babies were made with more distinctive personalities of their own.

In 1997 (1999 in the US and globally in 2003) the My Little Pony brand was re-launched by Hasbro, and enjoyed a huge revival in popularity (although for many they had never really gone away as My Little Pony toys were lasting icons representing childhood dreams). The second genereation ponies were made in completely different poses. They were a different shape to the original first generation ponies, slimmer and smaller in height, with longer legs and turning heads. They were mostly Earth ponies although there were a few unicorns, but no Pegasus ponies and just two baby ponies.

All the second generation ponies were discontinued in 2003 and the next, and current, generation of ponies was released. Generation 3 ponies includes some of the original ponies but standing in different poses and with different outfits and shiny bodies instead of matte ones.

Between 2003 and 2005 only Earth ponies were released, in 2005 Pegasus ponies were released and in 2006 Unicorn ponies were released. In 2008 My Little Pony toys were narrowed to seven ponies by Hasbro, who will now only re-release some older models but no new models.

Whatever happens in the future of My Little Pony toys, they will always retain their charm and appeal to millions of little girls and adults worldwide and they are sure to have a long, magical life ahead. Their magical, playful nature and iconic status will withstand the test of time and remain for future generations of little girls to enjoy.