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

Sand Digger

Sunshine Ponies (1989-91)

Yellow earth pony with aqua and white mane and tail (white turns magenta in sunlight), buckets and spades symbol

Sand Digger
Pony Data
Set Sunshine Ponies (1989-91)
Asst. Number
4646 (UK)
Accessories Mid-pink butterfly brush
Pose Shy
Distribution North America
UK, Europe
Probably other areas
Other Versions Versions exist with/without Pat. Pend hoof print (pony pictured is without)

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Ponies Sold in 1990 in the UK Kiss Curl's Grooming Parlour |Colour Change Baby Sea Ponies | Merry-Go-Round Ponies | Candy Cane Ponies | Sweetberry Ponies | Sunshine Ponies | Dance & Prance Ponies | Playtime Babies | Newborn Babies | Sweetheart Sister Ponies | Brush & Grow Ponies (Woolworths: Import) | Sweet Dreams Crib | Club Newborn Baby Bridesmaid | Baby Ribbons & Hearts (Special Offer) | Magical Breeze (Mail Order) | Baby Bonnet School of Dance (Mail In Offer) |Loving Families (individual and gift set) | Loving Family Accessories| Show Stable II | PETITE PONIES (assorted sets)

Other 1990 Ponies Goldilocks | Sweet Scoops | Chuck. E. Cheese Baby | Valentine Twins | Satin & Lace (Lavender) | Coat/Tux 'n' Tails | Twice as Fancy Baby Ponies | Birthday Baby Ponies | Sparkle Baby Ponies | Tropical Ponies (UK: 1991) | Rainbow Curl Ponies (UK: 1991) | Sweetsteps Ballerina Ponies | Drink & Wet Babies (UK: 1991) | Glittery Sweetheart Sister Ponies (UK: 1991) | Prom Queen Sweetheart Sister Ponies |Princess Baby Buggy | Pretty Mane Ponies | Baby Sister Ponies | DREAM BEAUTIES (assorted styles)

Sand Digger also available in the UK in 1991.


Sand Digger


Sand Digger was one of the earth ponies released in the Sunshine Pony set. She was sold in the North American release in 1989 and comprised one of the four characters sold in the UK and Europe in 1990. She was sold with the same accessory in both places - a pink butterfly brush. In the UK and Europe, she was sold on a yellow bordered card. She featured on the front and back of all the Sunshine Pony cards in the UK and Europe. She is one of the more sought after characters from the set despite her widespread release.

She had a white streak in her mane and tail which went magenta in sunlight.


Sand Digger MOC
Sand Digger Mint on Card
UK, 1990
Image from Locket

The loose pony shown at the top of the page is my childhood pony. She has been well-loved and so has probably seen better days!

Sand Digger's Character

As her name suggests, Sand Digger was a beach-dwelling pony, and in the comics, she spent a lot of time at Sunshine Beach. Her backcard story also talks about her at the beach, watching over the baby ponies as they build sandcastles, and then becoming a sand-project herself. Baby Bows's appearance in the story is surprising, given that she was not sold in the UK. It is just one of several examples from 1990 where ponies that were not part of the UK line were left in the UK release stories. This is a bit odd considering the stories were edited for spellings like colour, but as a kid I never noticed it, so probably most kids didn't, either.

Sand Digger's Story
Sand Digger's Backcard Story
UK, 1990

Sand Digger also often had a lot of buckets or pots of various sizes on hand for sudden emergencies, like the need to plant up a very tiny tree for Majesty to turn into a Christmas tree (I swear, I didn't make that up). According to one comic, her favourite dessert was Banana Split. (I can only assume she never met Banana Surprise.)