My Pretty Pony - 1981
(click to enlarge)
A lovable pony with long and beautiful mane and tail to brush, comb and tie with ribbons.
When you tickle Pony under her chin she'll wink with one eye, wiggle her ears... and even swish her tail!
My Pretty Pony was Hasbro's predecessor of My Little Pony and was first introduced to the toymarket in 1981. She was produced by Romper Room, a division of Hasbro. The big brown pony was created by American illustrator and designer Bonnie Zacherle. She worked with sculptor Charles Muenchinger and manger Steve D'Aguanno to realize the idea. Zacherle submitted the design patent in August 1981 for an ornamental design for a toy animal (which can be seen below) later Hasbro gained the patent in 1983. The original retail price for this pony was $14.99.
Much larger than the Little Ponies, we know and love today, My Pretty pony stood about 10 inches tall, is made of hard plastic and originally looked like any ordinary toy pony. My Pretty Pony has more of an 'old country farm' look with her earth-tone body colors and primary accessory colors. She is brown with a white blaze on her face and white accents on the leg areas, brushable light tan/blond hair and hazel eyes with eyelashes. Under her chin is a lever and when you pull it, My Pretty Pony twitches her ears, winks her left eye, and swishes her tail. Sadly, over time, the mechanism may wear out and it may not work any longer. My Pretty Pony has no official name, though on the box she's referred as "Pony".
Unlike My Little Pony, she has no symbol. However, there is a variant. She has an additional white spot on both sides of her backside. Not much info is known about this variant. It’s unclear if this pony was mixed in with the non-spot brown pony, or if the spotted pony was a release with the "My Pretty Pony and Beautiful Baby" set that came out with a baby pony that would later be known as Butterscotch.
She came with several accessories: Blue hand-held brush, blue long original comb, cowboy hat (red and white gingham band; Romper Room logo printed on band) and red saddle blanket. According to her box My Pretty Pony also came with 5 ribbons. One big red ribbon and one small red, blue, purple and pink ribbon. (I'm not positive on the colors of the smaller ribbons yet.)
When you tickle Pony under her chin she'll wink with one eye, wiggle her ears... and even swish her tail!
My Pretty Pony was Hasbro's predecessor of My Little Pony and was first introduced to the toymarket in 1981. She was produced by Romper Room, a division of Hasbro. The big brown pony was created by American illustrator and designer Bonnie Zacherle. She worked with sculptor Charles Muenchinger and manger Steve D'Aguanno to realize the idea. Zacherle submitted the design patent in August 1981 for an ornamental design for a toy animal (which can be seen below) later Hasbro gained the patent in 1983. The original retail price for this pony was $14.99.
Much larger than the Little Ponies, we know and love today, My Pretty pony stood about 10 inches tall, is made of hard plastic and originally looked like any ordinary toy pony. My Pretty Pony has more of an 'old country farm' look with her earth-tone body colors and primary accessory colors. She is brown with a white blaze on her face and white accents on the leg areas, brushable light tan/blond hair and hazel eyes with eyelashes. Under her chin is a lever and when you pull it, My Pretty Pony twitches her ears, winks her left eye, and swishes her tail. Sadly, over time, the mechanism may wear out and it may not work any longer. My Pretty Pony has no official name, though on the box she's referred as "Pony".
Unlike My Little Pony, she has no symbol. However, there is a variant. She has an additional white spot on both sides of her backside. Not much info is known about this variant. It’s unclear if this pony was mixed in with the non-spot brown pony, or if the spotted pony was a release with the "My Pretty Pony and Beautiful Baby" set that came out with a baby pony that would later be known as Butterscotch.
She came with several accessories: Blue hand-held brush, blue long original comb, cowboy hat (red and white gingham band; Romper Room logo printed on band) and red saddle blanket. According to her box My Pretty Pony also came with 5 ribbons. One big red ribbon and one small red, blue, purple and pink ribbon. (I'm not positive on the colors of the smaller ribbons yet.)
Page from Hasbro's 1981 Toy Fair Catalog (click to enlarge)
"My Pretty Pony and Beautiful Baby" box
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My Pretty Pony´s design patent sheet (click to enlarge)
Part of Sears' 1983 Wishbook
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My Pretty Pony (Peachy)
(click to enlarge)
At some point during the My Pretty Pony run another My Pretty Pony was made. This version resembled a large My Little Pony, with her pastel colors. She's a light pink pony with a white blaze on her face, brushable pink hair and blue eyes. Her symbol is a group of seven pink hearts. But while her exterior changed, some characteristics of My Pretty Pony remained the same. Like the brown My Pretty Pony, she has a lever under her chin that could twitch her ears, wink her left eye, and swish her tail. She also has no name, but she looks like a large version of Peachy.
There was another My Pretty Pony who looked very much like the pink one, only with a yellow body. This is a discolored version of the pink pony.
She came with similar accessories as the brown My Pretty Pony, with changes in the colors to match the pony's new look. A white cowboy hat, lavender blanket, purple grooming brush and comb, 2 large lavender ribbons and one small blue, yellow, white and lavender ribbon. (I'm not positive on the colors of the smaller ribbons yet.)
Her box was also designed in what became the My Little Pony logo (modified to read My Pretty Pony) and subdued colors.
My Pretty Pony was quickly evolving into the decade's most beloved toy horses; My Little Pony.
There was another My Pretty Pony who looked very much like the pink one, only with a yellow body. This is a discolored version of the pink pony.
She came with similar accessories as the brown My Pretty Pony, with changes in the colors to match the pony's new look. A white cowboy hat, lavender blanket, purple grooming brush and comb, 2 large lavender ribbons and one small blue, yellow, white and lavender ribbon. (I'm not positive on the colors of the smaller ribbons yet.)
Her box was also designed in what became the My Little Pony logo (modified to read My Pretty Pony) and subdued colors.
My Pretty Pony was quickly evolving into the decade's most beloved toy horses; My Little Pony.
