::My Little Pony Information::
::U. S. Ponies and Friends-1983::

From the few ponies released in 1982, there was a boom in 1983.  Many new styles, colors, and innovations were birthed in the My Little Pony line.  These ponies are some of the most well remembered. The earth ponies would now have the company of unicorn and Pegasus.  Many different body marking were tested:  freckles, blazes, glittery symbols, and rainbow hair.  Several of these ponies went on to be Softies, Ceramics, and other items.  Many ponies from Year 2 and 3 ended up having variations in countries all around the world.  I will list links to some of the variation pages with the actual pony sets.

Also, tons of new and well beloved playsets were sold, each having a special pony.  Some even have special friends, like a the little duck that came with the Waterfall.  

Related 1983 Ponies:  Accessory Playsets, Majesty (with Dream Castle), Peachy (with Pretty Parlor),  Lemondrop (with Show Stable), Sprinkles (with Waterfall)

 

Earth Ponies is also a slang term of sorts.  It identifies that the pony has no horn, wings, or other outstanding features.   These new issues, not the re-issues (Cotton Candy and Blossom) came with either freckles (close up pictured right) or a blaze (close up pictured below) on their nose.  The freckles sit on both sides of the cheeks and are unique in the U. S. adults only to Applejack and Bowtie.  The blaze is a diamond shape and is unique in the U. S. adults only to Seashell and Bubbles.  There are other International Adults with the freckles features.
This set of earth ponies is one of the most common sets of ponies that you will see worldwide and are widespread on pony related items.   The appear in various items, some appear as Plush Ponies and Pajama Cases, and in Ceramic Figurines, etc.
Click here to see the Earth Ponies mint in the original packages!

None of these Earth Ponies have curly hair; however, their are reissues of Applejack and Bowtie with curly hair.  These were sold in the U. K. and abroad; several have variant forms.  Also a second set of Earth Ponies was released in Year 3. International variations:  There are several Made in France versions, Peruvian versions (though I have no photographs; they are very similar to the originals), and Italian versions.

Pictured left to right: Top; Applejack, Cotton Candy, Bowtie.  Bottom; Bubbles, Blossom, Seashell.  Thanks to Joanne for use of this photograph.

Applejack is orange with yellow hair and red apples (with green stems and leaves), with white freckles on her cheeks.  She does not have curly hair and has green eyes.  There is also a U. S.  reissue of her with curly hair in Year 3.
International:  There are also two international versions of Applejack with her head facing forward (pose variation).  

Bow Tie is blue with pink hair pink and pink bows, with white freckles on her cheeks. She does not have curly hair and has purple eyes.    There is also a U. S. reissue of her with curly hair in Year 3.  
International:  There are also two international versions of international version of Bowtie with her head facing forward (pose variation).  There are other International variations as well; one example is the French version that has white hair and dark pink bows.  There is also two Brazilian variations.

Bubbles is yellow with blue hair and blue and green bubbles, with a white blaze on her muzzle, (sitting pose). She has blue eyes.  
International:  There is an French version with freckles on the cheek instead of a blaze on the nose.   There is also a Brazilian variation.

Seashell is purple with green hair and green shells, also with a white blaze on her muzzle, (sitting pose).    She has green eyes.  
International: There is an French version with freckles on the cheek instead of a blaze on the nose.

Notation: Blossom and Cotton Candy are reissued with Year 2 earth ponies in the United States.  

Rainbow ponies were unique in that they had a a glittery symbol and brilliantly colored rainbow hair. The rainbow hair ponies (of this edition) all have the same color pattern:  red, yellow, green, and blue (left to right).  Some were earth ponies, some were unicorns, and some were Pegasus.    Sunlight and Parasol share the same pose (Applejack's pose, shy pose).  Moonstone and Windy share the same pose (front hoof raised).  Skydancer and Starshine share the same pose (front hoof tucked). Click here to see the Rainbow Ponies mint in the original packages!

The following year, a new set of Rainbow Ponies (edition 2) would be issues with a more tropical hair color scheme.   Also, in a much later issue Baby Rainbow Ponies  would appear.  Also, there are the Rainbow Curl Ponies, and various ponies with multicolored hair (like the Brush 'n Grow Ponies, for example).   Also in Germany, special Rainbow Ponies were sold.  Some international versions of the rainbow ponies do not have glittery symbols; all of these have an international alternate.  There is an international version of Windy that is white, and versions of Starshine and Skydancer that are in alternate poses.  

These were sold in the U. K. and throughout Europe; there are several European and International variations of this set of ponies.  International:  There are some Made in France versions, there are some Grecian versions, there are some Argentinean versions, there are special Brazilian versions, German versions, and Spanish versions.  All of these have versions with non glitter or metallic symbol, click here to see them.  Other versions are listed with the specific ponies.  There are also Italian versions.

Pictured left to right:  Top; Sunlight, Starshine, Moonstone.  Bottom; Parasol, Skydancer, Windy.  Thanks to Joanne for use of this photograph.

Moonstone (unicorn) is blue and has a silverand blue ringed planet  (like Saturn) and blue and silver dots surrounding the planet.  She has violet eyes; instead of a regular purple, it's a really odd, bright shade.  She has an International alternate that is in Moondancer's pose.  Also, she has a German version.

Parasol (earth pony) is pink with four purple and blue umbrellas.  She has purple eyes.  There is also a special Italian version of Parasol that has rainbow hair in the tropical colors instead of her standard colors.

Starshine (Pegasus) is white with a gold sun.  She has an international alternate in Heart Throb's pose.  She has blue eyes.  There are other alternates of her as well, for example, an Italian version that has a green symbol.  

Skydancer (Pegasus) is yellow with flying green birds.  She has bright violet eyes; instead of a regular purple, it's a really odd shade.  She has an international version in Posey's pose.

Sunlight (earth pony) is light blue with a silver sun and gold cloud.  There is a French version of Sunlight that has freckles.  She has purple eyes.

Windy (unicorn) is pale purple or lavender with purple streaks of wind (pictured right).   She has blue eyes.  There is an international Windy, which is white instead of purple.  She is often referred to as White Windy.   There is also a version of Windy that is in Moondancer's pose instead of her U. S. pose and a French version in which see is blue (see the French in the above information).

Sea Ponies were special seahorse type ponies, with the standard My Little Pony head shape.  Each had a ball type weight in it to balance the body and make it actually float in the water.  There is a small round hole behind one of the ears to release water (close up pictured left).  Each came with a special display shell, which had suckers that will attach to your bathtub and also two combs and a ribbon.

Each Sea Pony has comb-able hair, with a mane much like that of any regular pony.  These versions have a forelock.  They also have colored fin tips that match their hair color.  The copyright date on Sea Ponies  is on the bottom side of the pony, on the tail area (close up pictured right).  All of these versions have straight hair (unlike those released the next year) and clam shells. Click here to see the Sea Ponies mint in the original packages!

Another set of adult Sea Ponies would be sold in Year 3.  However, these are the only two U. S. sets; the rest are Baby Sea Ponies.  Wavedancer was sold in the U. K., but her name was changed to Wave Breaker.  International:  There is a special set of three Sea Ponies, sold exclusives out of the United States.  These were sold in Italy in different packages.  I have the Italian Sea Ponies listed under the variations page.

Seawinkle is blue with purple hair and has a pink clam shell.  She has blue eyes and lavender fan tips.  Thanks to Joanne for use of this photograph.

Sealight is purple with pink hair and has a green clam shell.  She has aqua eyes medium pink fan tips.  Thanks to Michelle and Tom Hall for use of this photograph.

Wave Dancer is pink with blue hair and has a purple clam shell.  She has purple eyes and blue fin tips.  She was sold as a International pony in the 1980's.  Thanks to Joanne for use of this photograph.

Unicorns and Pegasus

The Unicorns and Pegasus actually were given that name by Hasbro, according to its brochures.  There were four unicorns and two Pegasus.  Each had a glittery symbol and unicorns had special streak of hair that was a different color from the rest of their hair.   Medley and Firefly share the same pose.  Sunbeam and Moondancer share the same pose (walking pose).  Glory and Twilight share the same pose (one hoof raised). Click here to see the Unicorns and Pegasus mint in the original packages!

A new set of Unicorns and Pegasus would be issued in Year 3.  They were sold Internationally and in some places had non glittery symbols and other variations.  To see these variations click here. International:  There are some Made in France versions, there are some Grecian versions, there are some Argentinean versions, German (Moonstone) versions, and Italian versions.  All of these have versions with non glitter or metallic symbol, click here to see them.  Other versions are listed with the specific ponies.

Group Photograph, left to right:  Top; Twilight, Glory, Moondancer.  Bottom; Medley, Sunbeam, Firefly.  Thanks to Joanne for use of this photograph.


Glory (unicorn) is white with dark purple hair with a blue streak and purple and silver shooting star (star is silver, trail is purple).  She has blue eyes.

Medley (Pegasus) is all green with green musical notes.  She has blue eyes.

Moondancer (unicorn) is white with red hair with a purple streak and silver moon and purple stars.  Some people have questions about her symbol, and it is odd.  You'll notice that the glittery symbol on the right and left of Moondancer is slightly different.  It has a kind of odd look to it.  She has purple eyes.  Moondancer has two foreign versions that are yellow.  There is also a version that is standing in Gusty's pose, click here for more.

Sunbeam (unicorn) is pale blue with white hair with a yellow streak and a yellow sun.  Her symbol looks small compared to her body.  She has light blue eyes.

Twilight (unicorn) is pink with white hair with a purple streak and purple stars.  She has purple eyes.  There is also an Italian version of Twilight that is white with blue hair.  

Firefly (Pegasus) is pink with blue hair and two blue lightening bolts.  Two versions were released, this one has glittery symbols and front leg up off the ground as the pose indicated on the card.  She has purple eyes.  

The other version of Firefly (movie version) is a deeper shade of pink with her head turned (Heart Throb's Pose); you can check her out in Year 9.  Obvious difference in the two:  one has glittery symbols and the other doesn't.  There is also a German version.

The contents contained within this site are Copyright © 2001-2007 Lavonia Martin.  My Little Pony is a registered trademark of Hasbro and Hasbro images are used for informational purposes only. My art is also subject to copyright law. The photographs in the site belong to myself or other collectors and not available for public use.