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