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

Masquerade

Twinkle Eye Pony, 1986

Yellow pegasus pony with dark green/aqua/green and neon yellow mane and tail, masquerade masks symbol, green gem eyes

Yellow pegasus with dark green, green, aqua and neon yellow hair, pink masks symbol
Pony Data
Set Twinkle Eye Ponies I (1985-6 North America, 1986, United Kingdom)
Asst. Number 4764 (United Kingdom)
Accessories Pink shooting star comb, pink ribbon, round puffy sticker.
Pose Masquerade
Distribution Largely worldwide, but not sold in Scandinavian countries.
 
Other Versions

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Ponies Sold in 1986 in the UK Twinkle Eyes (Set One) | Play & Care Set Babies (Set Two) | 1986 Pony Asst | Grooming Parlour |Baby Sea Ponies (Set One) | Wedding Bells Confetti | Show Stable | Lullabye Nursery | Baby Lemon Drop | Megan & Sundance | Dream Castle | Baby Lucky | Snuzzle (Concave - Argos)| Flutter Ponies

Other 1986 Ponies Twinkle Eyed Ponies (Set Two - UK:1987)* | So Soft Ponies (Set Two) | Pearly Baby Sea Ponies (UK:1987) | So Soft Megan & Sundance | Beddy Bye Eye Babies | Molly & Baby Sundance | Fable Ponies | Rainbow Ponies (Set Two - Europe, not UK) | Earth Ponies (Europe) | Birthflower Ponies (Scandinavia/Aus)| Birthday Party Gift Set | Hollywood | Satin & Lace | White Tootsie | Stockings | Baby Blue Ribbon | Baby Bonnet School of Dance (UK:1987)| Baby Sleepy Pie and Purse

*Partial set had later UK release.


Masquerade in the United Kingdom.

Masquerade was sold in 1986 as part of the first set of Twinkle Eye ponies. She was not sold in the second set, so did not see a re-release. In spite of that, she is relatively easy to find second-hand. She is a very nostalgic pony for me as she was one of my very earliest in my collection. Masquerade was a very long word for a very small girl, so I usually nicknamed her 'Masky' - the loose pony pictured on this page is my childhood pony, so has been well-loved!

Masquerade featured on the front and the back of her card.

Masquerade, Mint on Card
Mint on Card Masquerade,  UK 1986
Her accessories were the same in the North American release, except for the type of sticker, which was round and puffy in the UK but flat and scented in North America.
Masquerade on US card
Mint on Card Masquerade, North America, 1985
Image from Shivhae



Masquerade's Character

Masquerade appeared sometimes in the early eighties animation, such as in Sweet Stuff and the Treasure Hunt, and Woe is Me, usually as a background character. She had a more prominent persona in the comics, however, as a mistress of disguise. Masquerade did not have a magical ability, but she had the skill to dress up and disguise herself and she used this for many different purposes. Sometimes, to get to the bottom of a mystery. Sometimes to entertain, as a clown. She also played Pony Christmas one year, delivering all the gifts to the baby ponies. In one story she dressed up as a sea monster in order to scare the baby sea ponies into behaving themselves, in another she pretended to be a dragon.

Masquerade's disgusies
A selection of Masquerade's disguises
My Little Pony comic, UK

Her American backcard story was more reminiscent of Shady's persona in the UK comics, with magic sunglasses that have the ability to turn rainbow drops into rainbow stripes. When Masquerade blinked, her rainbow patterning changed colours - but this skill was linked to the glasses, not to the pony herself. It seems as though Hasbro US saw Masquerade as a pony chameleon, which is on the same lines as a costume expert!