In 2008 My Little Pony toys celebrated 25 wonderful years of whimsicality and celebrity status. Conceived and made by Hasbro, My Little Pony toys have brought magical fun to millions of little girls worldwide over several decades, and they are still around today bringing enjoyment to kids and adult collectors alike.

These brightly coloured little ponies have a long and interesting history but their inherent characters remain the same over time, they are just as whimsical and wonderful as Hasbro intended.

Most little girls would love to own a pony and My Little Pony toys are a substtiute for the real thing. 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. Those same little girls around the time of the first ponies are now adults who still love their Little Pony toys, which have become very collectable.

Obviously My Little Pony toys remained popular even after the first generation of little girls became adults but their design changed and other similar products entered the marketplace to compete with them. Before any such competition, when they were first introduced in 1983, My Little Pony toys became so popular that they outsold the infamous and massively successful Barbie doll 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 produced by Romper Room under the licence of Hasbro, although Hasbro later obtained the patent. My Pretty Pony was much bigger than the My Little Ponies that we know, and her colouring was much more earthy than the pretty, pastel colours of My Little Pony, with primary coloured accessories.

The first generation of My Little Pony toys were sold between 1983 to 1995 (1992 in the US) and there were originally only 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. Every little pony was sold with a ribbon and a comb for grooming it.

One of the first ponies released came with the Grooming Parlour (Pretty Parlour in the US), released in 1983. The Grooming Parlour was a blue plastic rectangular case, which opened into a parlour where you could 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 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 available in all three models – Earth, Unicorn and Pegasus forms. The earliest babies were like their mothers but not as big and made in different, slightly softer colourings. Later on baby ponies were attributed more distinctive identities of their own.

In 1997 (1999 in the US) the My Little Pony brand was re-launched and it enjoyed a massive revival, although for many people it had never really gone away and always remained popular. 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. Most of them were Earth ponies but there were a few unicorns, although no Pegasus ponies and only two baby ponies.

All the Generation 2 My Little Pony toys were discontinued in 2003 when the next, and current, 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 their sides.

Between 2003 and 2005 only Earth ponies were made, then in 2005 only Pegasus ponies, and then in 2006 only Unicorn ponies were made. 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.