ID - Identifying early UK ponies

Welcome to my (incomplete) UK pony ID page

I've included a list of pony sets, arranged by set/date, to also include a definitive set of "came with" info. This is not be a complete ID guide, or anything of that nature, as my set is not complete (I don't have that much space). I will, however, try to include details of all ponies in any sets that I own some from.
This will be a UK guide only (unless otherwise specified).

Note: height measurements are from bottom of hoof to top of head. I do not own ponies or items marked in DARK GREEN.
Another note: do not try and identify a pony by the date on the bottom of her hooves. This is the date that the mould was first used, not the date your pony was made!

If you want to catalogue your own collection, use my filing card blank; you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it.

How to use this page

  • Click on the name of the section you wish to visit (the links below) to jump to that section

Sections

1981

In 1981, Hasbro brought out a set of large (12" tall) hard plastic ponies with ears that moved, that looked a little like Peachy or Butterscotch and one in brown with white details.
These were called My Pretty Pony. I don't remember ever seeing them at the time, but I now have Brown MPP. They were distributed by Pedigree in the UK (the company that used to make "Sindy").

1982

Ponies

The first "proper" set of My Little Pony (note: Butterscotch was first made as a baby for the larger My Pretty Pony).

The first 6 had short legs with flat feet (and didn't stand up well). These were re-released for mail-order with slightly longer legs and concave feet. The US didn't get the mail-orders until 1985/6, but I believe the were in the UK from approximately the same time as the flat-foots. I remember seeing the details on how to order them in the "Twinkle" little girls' comic I got at that time, which was advertising the ponies.

Each pony came with a "puffy" sticker with her name and picture on it.
I didn't get any of these new, so no comb colours known.

Set stats:
Number in set: 6
Height: 10.7cm (concave foot) 10.4 cm (flat foot)
Mane length: 8.5cm
Tail length: 13cm
Information source: ponies owned, and leaflet that came with mail-order collectors' set. (Incidentally, this leaflet shows ALL 6 with dots for markings, like Cotton Candy).
Also thanks to
Silverdawn's auctions on eBay for comb and brush details.

Name Body colour Hair colour Body markings Eye colour Face markings Brush/Comb Hair ornaments Accessories
Blue Belle pale blue mauve blue stars mauve n/a plain white comb white ribbon n/a
Blossom pale lilac mauve white flowers mauve n/a plain white comb (flower brush V2) white ribbon n/a
Butterscotch yellowy brown light brown light brown butterflies light brown n/a plain pink comb pink ribbon n/a
Cotton Candy pink darker pink white dots mauve n/a plain mauve comb (flower brushV2) mauve ribbon n/a
Minty mint green white green shamrocks blue n/a plain blue comb blue ribbon n/a
Snuzzle grey pink pink hearts blue n/a plain blue comb blue ribbon n/a

Ember (1st baby, in blue, pink and lavendar versions) was available as a UK mail order at this time, as I had friends who owned her!

Accessories

Show Stable
White with mauve roof, came with lots of accessories (Brandy the Dog, fences, jumps, trophies, bed, flags (I have 2 of 3), saddle, bridle, reins, weathervane, window boxes, plain mauve comb, yellow heart brush).
Lemondrop the pony came with this set.

Pony stats:
Height: 10.7cm (concave foot)
Mane length: 9cm
Tail length: 11cm
Information source: 1984 MLP leaflet.

Name Body colour Hair colour Body markings Eye colour Face markings Hair ornaments
Lemondrop yellow purple purple mauve n/a mauve ribbon

Grooming Parlour (called Pretty Parlor in the U.S.)
Blue with white base and door and mirror sticker at back. Lots of accessories (Twinkles the kitten, yellow "straw" hat, white "flowers" hat, saddle, bridle, reins, basket and carrying strap, plain pink comb, pink heart brush with hanging loop, pink felt blanket).
Peachy the pony came with this set.
Additional info: for some reason, I am convinced I once saw a version with Snuzzle instead. I may be wrong.

An update on the "Snuzzle Parlour"!
In August 2005, I was send some pictures of it by Nicola Cooke, from the U.K.
Box and closeup to show it was listed as Snuzzle. The box shows both Hasbro UK and Hasbro US contact details.Many thanks to Nicola for sending me these and letting me use the pictures on my page!

Pony stats:
Height: 10.7cm (concave foot)
Mane length: 9cm
Tail length: 13cm
Information source: ponies owned, and 1984 MLP leaflet.

Name Body colour Hair colour Body markings Eye colour Face markings Hair ornaments
Peachy peach pink pink hearts blue n/a
green and yellow ribbons

Original Waterfall details to come

1983

Ponies

The UK were missing sets that the US had..
We did not get the Unicorns and Pegasus (Glory, Firefly, Medly, Moondancer,Sunbeam and Twighlight), which was a shame, since these were the main characters in the UK MLP comic at the time.

Earth Ponies
The second set of normal-type Earth Ponies included new moulds, the "shy" pose for Bowtie and Applejack, and the sitting pose for Bubbles and Seashell (not used in any other sets).
Each pony came with a "puffy" sticker with her name and picture on it.

Set stats:
Number in set: 6
Height: 10.7cm - 12cm (the seated ones are tallest)
Mane length: 14cm
Tail length: 9cm
Information source: ponies owned, and leaflet that came ponies, publication date 1984.
Also thanks to
Silverdawn's auctions on eBay for comb and brush details.

Note that Cotton Candy and Blossom were repeated from the first set, but I believe these came with flower brushes instead of plain combs.

Name Body colour Hair colour Body markings Eye colour Face markings Brush/Comb Hair ornaments Accessories
Applejack orange yellow red/orange apples green n/a blue flower brush blue ribbon n/a
Bowtie blue pink pink bows dark blue n/a yellow flower brush yellow ribbon n/a
Bubbles yellow blue blue/green circles blue n/a green flower brush green ribbon n/a
Seashell mauve green green shells green n/a pink flower brush pink ribbon n/a

Rainbow Ponies
This was my favourite set at the time. The first UK set with unicorns and pegasi, and with that many hair colours! Each came with a brush AND comb.
Each pony came with a "puffy" sticker with her name and picture on it.

Comb/brush details only known for those I got new.

Set stats:
Number in set: 6
Height: 11.5cm - 13.6cm (the Unicorns are tallest)
Mane length: 15cm
Tail length: 9.5cm
Information source: ponies owned, and leaflet that came ponies, publication date 1984.
Click for Windy's Backcard!

Name Body colour Hair colour Body markings Eye colour Face markings Brush/Comb Hair ornaments Accessories
Moonstone (unicorn) pale blue
pink yellow green blue
"Ringed" planet with smaller moons pink n/a "shooting star" brush and plain comb pink ribbon n/a
Parasol pink
pink yellow green blue
Lilac parasols with blue handles mauve n/a "shooting star" brush and plasin comb blue ribbon n/a
Skydancer(pegasus) white
pink yellow green blue
Flock of green birds pink n/a "shooting star" brush and plain comb green ribbon n/a

Starshine(pegasus) yellow
pink yellow green blue
Large gold 10-pointed star blue n/a mauve "shooting star" brush and plain comb blue ribbon n/a
Sunlight mint
pink yellow green blue
Sun rising between clouds blue n/a "shooting star" brush and plain comb pink ribbon n/a
Windy (unicorn) mauve
pink yellow green blue
Mauve wind eddies blue n/a yellow "shooting star" brush and plain comb yellow ribbon n/a
Accessories

Dream Castle
Pink with blue turrets, came with lots of accessories (Spike the baby dragon, mirror,horsehoes with holder, chest,table, goblets,crown, mauve blanket, blue damsel hat, 2 hoop jumps, working drawbridge and Spike's lift). Yellow star shaped brush, pink ribbons.
Majesty the pony came with this set.

Name Body colour Hair colour Body markings Eye colour Face markings Hair ornaments
Majesty (unicorn) white
blue white streak
blue glitter 4 petal flowers pink n/a pink ribbon

Pony stats
Height: 13.6cm
Mane length: 8cm
Tail length: 15cm
Information source: Pony and accessories owned and 1984 MLP leaflet.

1984

Ponies

Sea Ponies
We got the 1st set of Sea Ponies in the UK, but the set was a little different. Only 1 was similar to the US set (which was made up of Seawinkle, Sealight and Wavedancer). The UK Wavebreaker is basically Wavedancer with a different shell stand.
A Sea Pony is the MLP equivalent of a seahorse and has fins/tail rather than legs.
Each pony came with a "puffy" sticker with her name and picture on it.

Comb/brush details only known for those I got new.

Set stats:
Number in set: 3
Height: 14.6cm
Mane length: 8.5cm
Tail length: curled seahorse tail, not hair tail.
Information source: ponies owned, and leaflet that came ponies, publication date 1984.

Name Body colour Hair colour Body markings Eye colour Face markings Brush/Comb Hair ornaments Accessories
Seaspray yellow pink pink drops on fins blue n/a shell brush, spiral-handled comb blue ribbon mauve shell
Surfdancer pale blue yellow lilac drops on fins pink n/a shell brush, spiral-handled comb blue ribbon pink shell
Wavebreaker pink blue blue drops on fins blue n/a pink shell brush & spiral-handled comb pink ribbon yellow shell

Earthling Ponies ("Groom and Style" set)
This set included new moulds, the rather hauty prancing one used for Posey and Lickety-split, and the rather ugly bent front leg, looking-over-shoulder pose used for Cherries Jubilee and Tootsie. Poor Tootsie tends to be near the top of everyone's hate list due to this mould and her colouring.
Bowtie and Applejack were repeated (but not in the U.S) in the Collectors' pose (rather than the "shy" pose).
There was even a special record/tape giving little songs for each in this set! (The record was mail-order only).

Bowtie, Lickety-split and Cherries Jubilee were (as far as I know) the first ponies with curled hair.
Each pony came with a "puffy" sticker with her name and picture on it.

Comb/brush details only known for those I got new.

Set stats:
Number in set: 6
Height: 10.7cm - 13cm (CJ and Tootsie are tallest)
Mane length: 8-11cm
Tail length: 11-15cm
Information source: ponies owned, and leaflet that came ponies, publication date 1984.
Also thanks to
Cherries Jubilee's backcard!

Name Body colour Hair colour Body markings Eye colour Face markings Brush/Comb Hair ornaments Accessories
Applejack orange yellow red/orange apples green n/a unknown blue ribbon n/a
Bowtie blue pink pink bows dark blue n/a unknown yellow ribbon n/a
Cherries Jubilee peach dark pink red cherries green n/a green butterfly brush green ribbon n/a
Lickety-split pink pink white icecream in pink cones pink n/a mauve butterfly brush yellow ribbon n/a
Posey yellow pink pink tulips green n/a turquoise moon & stars comb (butterfly brush in U.S.) green ribbon n/a
Tootsie pale green blue pink lollies on white sticks blue n/a pink butterfly brush yellow n/a

Baby Ponies
Of this set, Baby Bowtie (with her stroller) and Baby Applejack were not sold in the U.S.
These babies came in a "Play and Care" set, rather then on a normal bubble-fronted card.
They came with boxed "Snugfit" nappies, bottles, "Baby" necklaces and some had rattles.
Each pony came with a "puffy" sticker with her name and picture on it.

Comb/brush details only known for those I got new.

Set stats:
Number in set: 4
Height: 7cm - 7.3cm (Baby Blossom and Baby Cotton Candy are marginally taller)
Mane length: 6cm - 6.5cm
Tail length: 11cm
Information source: ponies owned, and leaflet that came ponies, publication date 1984.

Name Body colour Hair colour Body markings Eye colour Face markings Brush/Comb Hair ornaments Accessories
Baby Applejack orange yellow red/orange apples green n/a teddy brush green ribbon various toys, including stacking hoops
Baby Bowtie blue pink pink bows dark blue n/a teddy brush yellow ribbon pink stroller with white wheels, rainbow harness strap to attach to pony
Baby Blossom lilac white white flowers mauve n/a teddy brush pink ribbon various toys, includng blue rocker
Baby Cotton Candy pink pink white dots mauve n/a mauve teddy brush pink ribbon lilac playpen w/ pink/white mat, pull-along duck, white/yellow bottle, white w/pink necklace, nappies
Accessories

Pony Wear
These sets were as follows (listed in the order they appeared in the leaflet):

  • Rainy Day - a yellow waterproof cape and hat
  •  Party Time - red feather-edged party coat with silver "crown"
  • Bedtime - white lace trimmed nightie and ruffled night hat
  • Royal Pony - (Pony Royal in the US) red cape edged in white fur with silver decoration & crown
  • Sweet Dreams - (same as in US) pink pyjamas, pink slippers, ruffled night hat and curlers
  • Roller Skating - (Great Skates in US) pink saddle with purple/pink ruffled blanket, skating boots, headband
  • Flashprance - (same as for US) rainbow leotard, pink shoes, legwarmers and sweatband
  • Tennis Fun - (Pony Luv in the US) pink raquet, white tennis dress, shoes, frilly knickers and visor
  • Birthday Girl - blue lace-edged dress with pink sash & white polkadots,yellow shoes

Jewellery Box
This pink, heart-shaped box with a rainbow at the top had Cotton Candy pictured on the front.
My leaflet shows it as having contained clips (barettes):

  • Bow-shaped, white/purple striped
  • White daisy with green stalk
  • Entirely yellow pony with star marking, standing on blue/white flowers
  • Heart shaped clip depicting Bowtie's head
  • Yellow shooting stars
  • White butterfly with blue dots and yellow body

Gymkhana
This came with Butterscotch the pony, and some of the showstable items. Note that this set was also known to come with Snuzzle (info from Beatrice Hannah).These were a pink saddle, reins & bridle, red "roof" jump, red jump with yellow bar, yellow trophies, yellow heart brush with looped handle on back and red 1st, 2nd and 3rd place rosettes.

Waterfall
I don't own this set! I DO have the US version, which oddly, I bought with original box,leaflet (but no pony), in the UK, 2nd hand.
This was similar to the U.S. waterfall set, apart from the colours and the pony (NOT Sprinkles the pegasus in the UK).
Set consisted of: green pool base, with sun, and rainbow/cloud shower attachemnt, "Duck Soup" the duck pet, pony bubble bath, mauve curlers, pink comb with rounded handle, sponge on a brush-shaped plastic handle.
Cascade the pony came with this set.

Name Body colour Hair colour Body markings Eye colour Face markings Hair ornaments
Cascade yellow green green drops, with dots on edges green n/a pink ribbons

Height: ??cm
Mane length: ??cm
Tail length: ??cm
Information source: 1984 MLP leaflet.

Grooming Parlour, Dream Castle and Show Stable sets were as for the previous year.

1985/1986

Ponies

This set contained repeated favourites, Posey and Cherries Jubilee. The remaining 4 were exclusive to the UK. Very bight in colour, with symbols picked out in glitter (apart from Hopscotch).
Gypsy was the first unicorn to NOT have a different coloured streak in her mane.
Posey and Cherries Jubilee were very slightly different from their previous version. The marking were much darker in this set (similar to those underneath the flocking on the US So-Soft versions).

Comb/brush details only known for those I got new.

Set stats:
Number in set: 6
Height: 12.5cm - 13.3cm (Gypsy is the tallest)
Mane length: 8-8.5cm
Tail length: 11.5-15cm
Information source: ponies owned, and leaflet that came ponies, publication date 1986.

Name Body colour Hair colour Body markings Eye colour Face markings Brush/Comb Hair ornaments Accessories
Gypsy (unicorn) terracotta dark red orange tambourines lilac n/a unknown yellow ribbon n/a
Honeycomb (pegasus) white fluorescent yellow bees lilac n/a unknown lilac ribbon n/a
Hopscotch pale blue dark purple pink hopscotch game pink n/a unknown pink ribbon n/a
Snowflake bright pink white white snowflakes blue n/a unknown blue n/a

Baby Sea Ponies

Twinkle-Eye Ponies

Pony Wear Collection 3

Pony Wear Collection 4

Pony Wear Collection 5

Flutter Ponies

Baby Pony Play and Care Sets

Baby Pony Stroller (with Baby Lemondrop)

Baby Wear with Pocket Pals

Wedding Bells (with Confetti pony) - UK never got rest of 2nd Rainbow set

Megan and Sundance

Later 1986:

2nd Twinkle-Eyes

MLP Movie set (So-Soft alternatives)

Mountain Boys

Accessories:

Jewellery Box

Lullabye Nursery

The Grooming Parlour, Dream Castle and Show Stable sets were as for the previous year.

"My Little Pony ®" is the copyright of Hasbro Industries Ltd.
Images property of C. Lonsdale unless stated - do not use without permission