Chocolate Chip (Aka Coco Berry in North America)
If there were awards for the most noxious scented pony,
Chocolate Chip would definitely get my vote. I'm not sure what
her perfume is, but it's definitely not chocolate.
Chocolate Chip 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 changed from the US release "Coco
Berry", probably because "Chocolate Chip" seemed more "British".
Despite all the early name confusion, her name was correctly
recorded on her UK backcard.
Chocolate Chip's Name
Sundae Best Backcard, UK, 1988-9
She 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.
Chocolate Chip Made in Hong Kong
(Bought from North America)
While there is a notable difference in
colouration (the Hong Kong one has much prettier colours), it
is possible for ponies to discolour, especially with scent.
That said, most Chinese-made ones do seem to be an inspid
shade of pale blue compared to those from Hong Kong.
Chocolate Chip had fading pink hair, which was intentionally
curly.
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.
Chocolate Chip's Character
Chocolate Chip's comic debut was marred by the fact that, to begin
with, the comic didn't quite know which Sundae Best pony was
which. She played a part in a few comic stories here in the UK,
once appearing under then name "Sorbet Surprise" when everyone was
still trying to get their names properly straight.
The surprise is..she's not Sorbet Surprise!
My Little Pony comic mix-up, UK.
"I'm Chocolate Chip", says Cherry Berry's image...
My Little Pony Comic, UK
She had a special connection with a place called Chocolate Hill,
or something along those lines - from which she made chocolate
sundaes!!
