1982

My Little Pony in the UK in 1982 is somewhat murky. It's very likely that there was no My Little Pony here at all so early on - that the line began in it's native United States and only in subsequent years did the ponies trickle across the ocean and become an institution in European lands.

My Little Pony's ancestor, "My Pretty Pony" had laid the paving slabs for the new release by endearing many children to the equine concept throughout 1981. My Pretty Pony had been large - a good ten or twelve inches from hoof to ear - with a lever under her chin to wiggle her ears and a tail that, when pulled, made her eyes blink. In the early years of My Little Pony, My Pretty Pony was packaged in sets with Peachy and possibly Lemon Drop as well, as a 'mother and baby' release.

It seems likely, however, that this was intended as promotion for the new line, since My Pretty Pony faded and died not long into 1983. Only one of the Mother and Baby sets has been seen with box on Ebay in several years, and it's impossible to know how popular the release really was.

The original six My Little Ponies came into being sometime in the middle of 1982. All were pastel colours, all in the same pose. There was only one release of My Little Pony this year - and they became known as "Flat Footed" My Little Ponies on account of their hoof design.

Though there is no documentation for My Little Pony in the UK for the years 1982 and 1983, many flat footed ponies have been found on the second hand market over here. It is my belief that they were sold here as imports from the United States - possibly re-packaged in a primitive UK style, as exhibited by some of the sets from the following years.