| In 2008 My Little Pony toys celebrated 25 wonderful | | | | carry-case that opened out into a parlour to groom |
| years of whimsicality and celebrity status. Conceived | | | | your little pony. It came with a comb, ribbons, hats, a |
| and made by Hasbro, My Little Pony toys have | | | | bridle, a saddle and nametags to display under a pony |
| brought magical fun to millions of little girls worldwide | | | | placed on the centre stage. It also came with a tabby |
| over several decades, and they are still around today | | | | cat and a pink basket that could be strapped to the |
| bringing enjoyment to kids and adult collectors alike. | | | | pony's back. |
| These rainbow coloured, cute little pony toys have a | | | | My Little Pony toys then changed in appearance over |
| long and varied history but the ponies' intrinsic | | | | time, although they retained their pastel coloured bodies |
| characters remain the same - whimsical and | | | | with a different colour mane and tail, and individual |
| wonderful, just as Hasbro intended and portrayed with | | | | symbols on their flanks. Following the original Earth |
| some very powerful marketing strategies. | | | | ponies came Unicorns and Pegasus ponies, and baby |
| Most little girls dream of owning a pony and My Little | | | | ponies became available in all three models - Earth, |
| Pony toys go some way to making that dream come | | | | Unicorn and Pegasus forms. The early babies were |
| true. Especially for little girls born in the 1970's, growing | | | | similar to their "mothers" but smaller and in slightly |
| up in the 80's, as My Little Pony toys inspired pretty | | | | softened colours. Later babies were given more |
| much a whole generation. Those same little girls | | | | distinctive identities of their own. |
| around the time of the first ponies are now adults who | | | | In 1997 (1999 in the US and globally in 2003) the My |
| still love their Little Pony toys, which have become | | | | Little Pony brand was re-launched by Hasbro, and |
| very collectable. | | | | enjoyed a huge revival in popularity (although for many |
| Of course My Little Pony toys continued to be hugely | | | | they had never really gone away as My Little Pony |
| popular after this first generation of children grew up | | | | toys were lasting icons representing childhood dreams). |
| but their shapes and designs changed, and copycat | | | | These second generation ponies were created in |
| products came onto the market to compete with | | | | completely new poses. They were smaller and |
| them. Before any such competition, when they were | | | | slimmer than the original first generation of ponies, with |
| first introduced in 1983, My Little Pony toys became so | | | | longer legs, jewel eyes and turning heads. Most of |
| popular that they outsold the infamous and massively | | | | them were Earth ponies but there were a few |
| successful Barbie doll at one point. | | | | unicorns, although no Pegasus ponies and only two |
| The inception of My Little Pony toys followed the | | | | baby ponies. |
| closely related My Pretty Pony toys, their American | | | | All the Generation 2 My Little Pony toys were |
| predecessor, that had been introduced to the | | | | discontinued in 2003 when the next, and current, |
| marketplace in 1981. My Pretty Pony was produced by | | | | generation of little ponies was introduced. Generation 3 |
| Romper Room under the licence of Hasbro, although | | | | includes the re-release of some original ponies but in |
| Hasbro later obtained the patent. My Pretty Pony was | | | | different poses or outfits and most of them have shiny |
| much bigger than the My Little Ponies that we know, | | | | bodies and matte symbols on their sides. |
| and her colouring was much more earthy than the | | | | From 2003 to 2005 only Earth ponies were released, |
| pretty, pastel colours of My Little Pony, with primary | | | | then in 2005 Pegasus ponies were released and in |
| coloured accessories. | | | | 2006 Unicorn ponies. In 2008 Hasbro narrowed its My |
| The first generation of My Little Pony toys ran from | | | | Little Pony toys down to seven ponies and no new |
| 1983 to 1995 (1992 in the US) and there were initially | | | | ponies will be released, although some older models will |
| only six little ponies. These original six ponies were all | | | | be re-released. |
| Earth ponies, that is they had no wings or horns, unlike | | | | Whatever happens in the future of My Little Pony |
| later little ponies. They had silky, brushable manes and | | | | toys, they will always retain their charm and appeal to |
| tails and their own individual symbols on their flanks. | | | | millions of little girls and adults worldwide and they are |
| Each little pony came with a ribbon and a comb for | | | | sure to have a long, magical life ahead. Their |
| grooming them. | | | | playfulness and whimsical nature will remain for |
| One of the first My Little Ponies was released with the | | | | generations of little girls to enjoy, and their iconic status |
| Grooming Parlour (Pretty Parlour in the US) in 1983. | | | | will hopefully stand the test of time. |
| The Grooming Parlour was a blue plastic rectangular | | | | |