Butter Kiss (Aka Swirly Whirly in North America)

Butter Kiss was the unicorn from the Sundae Best Pony set. She was sold in 1988 in North America and in late 1988 into 1989 in the UK. Her name was different in the UK from the US, although it is not clear whether Butter Kiss was her original production name in North America, or whether it was a creation of Hasbro UK's. Her American name is Swirly Whirly, but the capitalised text on her American card suggests that this name may have been changed late in production and may not have been her original name.

Despite much name confusion for this set, Butter Kiss is correctly named on the UK backcard.

Butter Kiss's Name
Sundae Best Backcard, UK, 1988-9

She was also the first Sundae Best pony to be introduced to members of the My Little Pony club, when she acted as an 'editorial assistant' on the 1988 newsletter. She was made in a very modified version of the original first Collector Pose.

Butter Kiss was also sold in European countries around the same time as she was available in the UK. Some European countries had her on American-style cards, such as the Benelux countries, whilst others had her on European/UK style cards, translated. The main difference (aside minor card design) was that those sold in North America/Benelux had a hair clip, whilst those sold in the UK and other parts of Europe did not.

Chocolate Chip could be made in China or in Hong Kong. The pony pictured at the top of the page is made in China and was found at a UK carboot sale in the late 1990s. The one pictured below was originally sold in North America and is made in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong versions are more often sold in the North American/with-a-clip release, whilst Chinese ones are easier to find in the UK and I imagine on the continent. Germany also had its own version of this pony, which was probably sold in Austria, and Switzerland, as well.

Butter Kiss's Character

Butter Kiss's culinary speciality was butterscotch. In fact, if I remember correctly, she actually made butterscotch from buttercups, and one story once had her crop ruined by ink or something similar. At another point, she made the acquaintance of a striking yellow cow from whom she could somehow (?!) get magic buttercup essence for her sundaes! All perfectly normal, ethical and above board I'm sure.