Groom and Style Ponies

Also known as 'Groom and Style Ponies' in the UK, these six ponies had a new Hasbro gimmick - the set included three ponies with curly hair. Cherries Jubilee, Lickety Split and Bow Tie were all issued with curls and the new issue of Bow Tie and Applejack had them in a different pose. (Please excuse my un-curly Cherries Jubilee - she's lived with me a very long time and her hair has paid the price!!!)
It seems likely, however, that the original style Bow Tie and Applejack continued to be sold in the UK at the same time, since no advertising material of the time seems willing to make up it's mind which is on sale ;) Only Bow Tie's curly hair gives away her actual date of issue as having to be in with this group at the earliest. My assertion is actually

further backed up by the Ponywear advertisment for this year, which features Lickety Split, Posey and collector pose Applejack and Bow Tie. (It's kinda nice to have my deductions proven, thank you BBC for airing this commercial over the 2002 Christmas period!) In parts of Europe there was also a white version of Tootise (left). She was made in Hong Kong like the regular Tootsie but with reversed colours for her body and lollipop sticks.
These were also the UK's 'personalities', for during the year a pony collector could amass tokens from MLP packets to send off for the My Little Pony Song LP. It seems the popularity of this issue inspired the songs to be released on cassette tape also. The record came with a sheet of song lyrics and both tape and record featured seven songs and a link story. This recording helped to define the personalities of the ponies in question. Applejack was the clumsy, slightly dopey pony who was always 'falling into holes' and 'bumping into fences' in search of apples, Bow Tie was the pony who 'loved ribbons and bows', Lickety Split was the 'ice cream pony', Cherries Jubilee was the 'carnival queen', Posey had a special garden 'under the magical rainbow' and Tootsie was a 'lollipop girl' :) Thanks to Garej for the picture (right) of Bow Tie, Posey and Lickety Split from the Argos Catalogue :) The Groom and Style version of Bow Tie was also pictured on the UK box for Dream Castle.
The opening song on the tape introduces the six earthlings in the following way:

"Posey is a pony with a pretty garden, Tootsie is a lollipop girl
Cherries Jubilee makes rainbow garlands and Bow Tie loves ribbons and curls
Applejack is such a silly pony, doing everything that she should not.
And if there's lots and lots of strawberry ice cream, then Lickety Split will eat up all you got!"

In the Pony Comics Tootsie also had a cute trick - when she reversed her letters in excitement, lollipops would sprout up around her. A useful addition to any of Sunbeam's impromptu parties!!!
In the United States, Applejack and BowTie were re-issued, but they were not in the different 'collector' pose. However, both did have curly hair still.
It is important to note the following things:
There is NO SUCH THING as a Hasbro issued Posey or Tootsie with a white symbol - these are ALL sunfaded.
There is equally NO SUCH THING as a Hasbro issued Lickety Split or Posey with white hair - again, this is sun fading!
HOWEVER there IS such a thing as a Posey with MAGENTA tulips, who it is now proven came from the second issue and can be found with Gypsy and company under 1986!