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In 2008 My Little Pony toys celebrated 25 wonderful years of whimsicality and celebrity 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 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 dream of owning a pony and My Little Pony toys go some way to making 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.

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. 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 creation of My Little Pony toys closely followed My Pretty Pony toys, their American relation that had been released to the market in 1981. My Pretty Pony was made by Romper Room, a division of Hasbro at the time. My Pretty Pony was bigger than My Little Pony and her colour was more earthy in tone than the pastel colours of My Little Pony that followed.

The first generation of My Little Pony toys ran from 1983 to 1995 (1992 in the US) and there were initially only six little ponies. The original ponies were all Earth ponies, they had no wings or horns like later Unicorn or Pegasus ponies. They had soft, silky manes and tails that you could brush, and each one had their own symbols on their behinds. Every little pony was sold with a ribbon and a comb for grooming it.

One of the first My Little Ponies was released with the Grooming Parlour (Pretty Parlour in the US) in 1983. The Grooming Parlour was a blue rectangular case that opened out into a parlour, where you could groom a little pony. It came with a comb, ribbons, hats, a bridle, a saddle and nametags to display under a pony placed on the centre stage. It also came with a tabby cat and a pink basket that could be 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 babies were like their mothers but not as big and made in different, slightly softer colourings. Later on babies were made with more distinctive personalities 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 generation of ponies were made in totally different poses. They were smaller and slimmer than the original first generation of ponies, with longer legs, jewel eyes 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 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 released, in 2005 Pegasus ponies were released and in 2006 Unicorn ponies were released. In 2008 Hasbro reduced its My Little Pony toys down to just seven ponies and from now no new ponies will be created, although some older generation models may be released.

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.