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

1992

Secret Surprise Ponies


Secret Surprise Ponies

Secret Surprise Ponies as shown on their UK and European backcard
1992-3

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Ponies Sold in 1992 in the UK Rockin' Beat Ponies | Glowing Magic Ponies | Pocket Friends Ponies | Rainbow Baby Ponies | Romance Ponies |Ballerina Baby Ponies | Teeny Weeny Ponies | Secret Surprise Ponies | Sweet Talking Ponies |Pony Bride | Holiday with Good Weather | Picnic Day with Sweet Clover | Cookery Ponies | Kitchen | Schoolhouse | Merry Treat, the Christmas Pony | Baby Ribbons & Hearts (Club Offer)

Other 1992 Ponies Flower Fantasy Ponies | Sippin' Soda Ponies | Sweet Kisses (North America) | Sundazzle Ponies | Colorswirl Ponies | Paradise Babies | Teeny Tiny Twins | Fancy Mermaid Ponies | Bridal Beauty (UK: 1993) | Birthday/Anniversary Pony (UK:1993)

Set still on sale in the UK in 1993.

Secret Surprise Ponies

"Can you keep a secret? The Secret Surprise Ponies can! If you turn the key in their brooches...you'll see where they keep a secret surprise!"
       ~Hasbro UK, 1992

Perhaps inspired by the successful Kenner toy, "Keypers", the Secret Surprise ponies were four larger built ponies released in 1991 in North America and 1992-3 in Europe and in the UK. They came with openable capes on their back, under which was a very small storage compartment. Each pony came with a key and a surprise gift (necklace or ring).

Secret Surprise Instructions
How to open a Secret Surprise Pony
Spangling Secret's box (UK, 1992)

 The ponies were the same in all releases but the names were different in the UK from the US release and the box style was also very different.

Secret Surprise Names
Secret Surprise Pony Names in the UK
Spangling Secret's box, 1992

While the US boxes were enclosed with just pictures of the pony on the front, the UK ones had open windows through which you could see pony, comb and key.
Shimmering Secret MIB
Shimmering Secret Mint in Box
German edition, 1992
Image from Barkingmadd

The ponies came with a unique style of comb only sold with this set, which were small with a few thick prongs. They were a bow shape with a pony portrait in the middle of the comb (often referred to online as 'cameo' combs). In the UK and European release, they came with a ribbon as well. The ribbon is not visible in Mint in Box examples, but I have home video of opening Spangling Secret and her ribbon was inside the compartment with the ring. The UK box also mentions that a ribbon is included. The timing of my home video indicates they were available in stores at the very beginning of 1992.

Secret Surprise Combs
Secret Surprise Pony Combs
(examples shown belong to Spangling Secret and Shimmering Secret)

Although all boxes mentioned a ring or necklace could be included, in fact the rings came with those with heart style capes and the necklaces came with those who had star style capes. The ponies also had corresponding heart or star shaped light spots in their eyes (instead of the usual white circle).

The set were introduced in My Little Pony comic 174, and remained on sale in the UK in 1993, although they were sold in the same style of boxes as in 1992. They appeared in comics up until the My Little Pony Tales changeover in 1993, after which they were no longer featured.




Secret Surprise Ponies (North America, 1991, UK and Europe, 1992-3)