The My Little Pony Scrapbook: G1 in the UK and Europe

Floater

Magic Message Ponies 1988

Yellow pegasus pony with coral hair (green streak in hair), heat sensitive green and red balloons symbol, balloon on cheek.

Floater
Pony Data
Set Magic Message Ponies (1988)
Asst. Number 4630
Accessories Green dove brush, pink ribbon (North America confirmed)
Pose Masquerade
Distribution North America
UK
Europe? Distribution unconfirmed.

 
Other Versions

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Ponies Sold in 1988 in the UK Twice as Fancy (Party) Ponies | First Tooth Baby Ponies | Adventure Boy Ponies | Birthday Party with Tutti Frutti | Princess Ponies (Set 1) |Kiss Curl's Grooming Parlour | Summer Wing Ponies| Magic Message Ponies | Happytails Ponies (Import) | Newborn Twins (Set II, Partial) | Pretty & Pearly Baby Sea Ponies (UK Release) | Crimp & Curl Hair Salon | Lullabye Nursery | Baby Buggy | Sundae Best Ponies | Baby Bonnet School of Dance

Other 1988 Ponies Speedy (Europe) | Regenbogen-Ponys (Germany/Austria) | Baby-Ponys (Germany/Austria) | Princess Ponies (Set II) | Brush & Grow Ponies | Peekaboo Babies | Pony Friends (Animals) Set II| Sweetberry Ponies (UK: 1990)| Watercolor Baby Sea Ponies (UK: 1989) | Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe | Brush Me Beautiful Boutique | Slumber Party Gift Set | Perfume Puff Palace (UK: 1989) | Twice as Fancy Ponies: Set II | Clipper | Satin 'n' Lace (Magenta) |Sparkle Ponies (Mail Order)




Floater

Floater was one of the six Magic Message ponies sold in 1988. She was the only pegasus in this new set, with a heat sensitive symbol and a stripe of colour in her hair. Her symbol is balloons, each of which contains a hidden message (I Love You and I Love Ice Cream). We assume that her name referred to the balloons, and maybe ice cream floats, as a play on words. And nothing else. :) Her hair is meant to be straight, not wavy as she is sometimes drawn.

One of the problems we have for this set is that, while backcards survive, Mint on Card examples of this set from the UK are not often found. Without pictures of Mint on Card ponies, it's impossible to know whether the accessories sold with these ponies was the same in the UK as in the North American release. I've included the American accessories on the page, but be aware variation is possible.

The Magic Message Ponies were introduced in a booklet given out free with the My Little Pony comic. This demonstrated that keeping the 'magic' a secret was a long way from Hasbro's mind. The booklets - which could be coloured in - featured the ponies, their names, a short description, and their hidden symbol secrets! These could be revealed from rubbing the small boxes to each side, but they were written in anyway, giving the secret away. Oh well. Never mind.
Floater's Booklet Intro
Floater's Booklet Intro
My Little Pony Comic, 1988 (UK)




Floater's character

Floater was the explorer, inheriting Lofty's travelling mantle and zipping around places in a hot air balloon. It is thanks to Floater that Banana Surprise was introduced into the comic (for which I am sure we are all eternally grateful...) Somehow it seems appropriate that a pony who declares her love for ice cream on her symbol should find an ice cream-themed pony while out exploring.

The booklet suggests she is a gentle pony who loves ice cream, as well as loving her new pony guardian. In the commercial, the part of the jingle that refers to the pony loving her pony guardian has Floater on the screen.

I suspect maybe she also loves balloons. Just a thought.