Megan and Sundance - unpicking the mess.
Megan and Sundance were actually released in around 1985 in North
America, but they didn't get to our shores until 1986. As usual,
the UK did weird things that don't make any sense in the wider
scheme of things. Let me try and break it down so it maybe makes
sense.
In North America, Megan was sold wearing a fancy pale dress, which
she was also featured in during the Parade of Ponies at the end of
Escape from Catrina.
Megan and Sundance from the US release (bridle missing)
Megan with ribbon
Image from Save the Ponies
Megan and Sundance, 1986
UK insert
Megan and Sundance's UK Sticker with date stamp (1986)
Image thanks to SaveThePonies
In North America, Sundance also had a velvet bridle, in pink with
floral accents (not pictured). The UK release did not have a
bridle or any other kind of accessory. North America also had a
special release of the Show Stable, in different colours, called
"Megan's Place", which was an exclusive to the catalogue store
Sears between 1985 and 1986. This was sold in both America and
Canada, but is quite hard to find due to the limited nature of the
offer, and it was never sold in the UK.
This seems simple, if odd, but there is one more complication.
Sundance sold in North America was made in Hong Kong.
Sundance, Made in Hong Kong
North America, 1985-6
"No Country" Sundance - UK and Europe, 1986-7
So where was Sundance made?
The traditional view on this has been that Sundance sold in
Europe must have been made in Spain. This theory came about
because of a number of ponies known to be made in Spain that
have no country stamped on their hooves. But whether this is
true or not is not certain. The packaging for Megan and Sundance
does not mention the pony being made in Spain - Spanish pony
cards often do mention this. In fact, there is some evidence
that this Sundance may have been made in China. As time passed
on, there are examples of other playset and special release
ponies, such as Majesty, appearing with China, rather than Hong
Kong, on hooves. Another piece of circumstantial evidence is the
apparent existence of a weird end of line hybrid involving
Sundance's body and Princess Pearl's head. I know, it sounds odd
- but put-together princess ponies were a thing at the end of
the UK line. There are a couple of these in existence,
suggesting authenticity - and these were always made from pony
bits made in China.
We don't know for certain where Sundance was made. But it's not
for sure she was made in Spain.
Hong Kong Sundance was never sold in the UK, or in Europe - but
the no country version would be released again in 1987
over here in the UK, with a whole new look.
Megan and Sundance - UK backcard
The card art for the 1986 ponies was very pretty and detailed,
and especially with those sold in boxes. Megan and Sundance is
no exception, and you can click on the image below to get a
larger version of the back scan. The story features Honeycomb,
who is also illustrated on the back of the card. She was also on
sale in 1986, so this was a covert piece of promotion for an
adjacent set. Megan and Sundance's story talks about Honeycomb
bringing Megan to Ponyland, and a reunion between her and her
rather clumsy special pony friend, Sundance, who managed to bang
her knees while collecting flowers.
Megan and Sundance's UK box, 1986
In North America, Megan and Sundance also had their own line
of ponywear. That wasn't a thing in the UK, although one of
those outfits would see a UK release...in
1987.
Megan and Sundance were also offered
through a promotional/competition offer in the My Little
Pony comic #34, which promised the opportunity to win a
set for free. The comic cover featured Sprinkles bringing
Megan over the rainbow to meet Sundance, with the
competition title spelled out by Duck Soup in bubbles.
"Win Megan and Sundance"
My Little Pony comic 34
"Prototype" Sundance and the UK
A decade or so ago, a 'prototype' for Sundance emerged
through an online sale. The community remains divided as
to her authenticity.
She was allegedly picked up at a UK meet in the late
1990s, but pony meets did not occur in the UK until 2003,
making this provenance questionable. I do not want to
debate whether this pony is real - my intention is simply
to point out the only piece of Hasbro evidence to suggest
such a pony existed came from around 1984, right before
Megan and Sundance was sold in the US (1985). The
chances are any such prototype would have originated over
there, and not in the UK. There is currently no evidence
that Hasbro ever planned to sell a Collector Pose version
of Sundance in the UK. For that reason, she has no place
on my website or no this page.
