The Original My Little Ponies

My Little Pony began in America in late 1982. Although it is unlikely these original six characters were ever on sale in the UK in 1982, there is no doubt that, at some point in 1983, they trotted their way over the sea to our stores, as catalogue images and a UK television commercial advertising this set survives. It seems that the initial wave was entirely via import, on the same cards as sold in North America. This assumption is based on a lack of surviving "UK" style cards, and the TV commercial, which advertises them on American-style cards.

Flat Footed Butterscotch on US card
(Image from Shivhae)


Backcard from Flat Foot Pony release (no story)
Image from Shivhae

The set names "Collector Ponies" and "Flat Footed Ponies" are not the names under which these ponies were originally sold. The set had no other name really than "My Little Pony". Why would they need it? It wasn't clear to Hasbro at the start that this was going to be the next big girl's toy. In fact, prototype versions of the My Little Ponies, designed by Bonnie Zacherle, were in more natural colours, like My Pretty Pony. The fantasy colours we know them for today were never a sure thing right back at day one.

The name "Flat Foot", while uncomplimentary, derives from the literal fact that the original release of My Little Pony did indeed have 'flat feet'. This is in contrast to every other subsequent set, including later releases of these characters, who would have Concave Feet (often abbreviated online to FF and CF). The moulds were also a little more inconvenient, with the heads lower and feet closer together, making them in danger of tipping forward. To compensate, the Flat Footed ponies had very thick tail washers to act as a ballast. Unfortunately, tail washers were metal, and tail rust is a problem that particularly afflicts these especially old ponies.

Feet and Washers

Flat Foot Feet

Concave Feet

Flat Foot Tail Washers

The name 'Collector Pony' comes from the frequent mail in offers in North America in later years, where they were referred to in this vein. The original six had a much greater weight and presence in North America because of these mail order reissues - whereas in the United Kingdom, only two of the six would go on to become familiar and popular characters. Hasbro never promoted these ponies as 'Collector' ponies in the UK.

Although officially there are only six Collector Ponies, a seventh Flat Footed pony does exist. The first playset, the Grooming Parlour came with a pony called Peachy, and there are versions of her found with Flat Feet as well - probably because of the early nature of her issue. It is thought that some flat foot versions of Peachy came with later, pony-styled versions of the My Pretty Pony from the previous year. These have so far been found exclusively in North America, and not in the UK.